Leeving Texas with a Win!

LEE - "DAMN YOU THOME & DELMON" REAL QUOTE..maybe



Well, the Twins players must be reading my blog. They did take my prescription. Franky was on his game. He didn't have that I don't care look in his eyes. The bats showed up. Thome....how huge has he been since Mr. $1 any size softdrink went down? When he does come back, I don't see them taking Thome out, so they will probably move Danny V to the bench (that's what happens when you are a rookie) and move Cuddy back to 3rd. Anyway, back to the game. Cliff was hanging by a thread all game and we busted him. He had his shortest outing this year. He also walked guys, which is rare for him (only 11 total before last nights game). I think the twins knew this was a big game and they showed it. By winning this game, they stay 1 game ahead of the Rangers in the head to head battle. It now sits at 4-3 in favor of us. They didn't want to go into Seattle feeling down. They would get there, it would be raining, people would still be crying about Kurt Cobain...just not good. It was nice to see Capps come in and not crap himself. I know he isn't Nathan...or anything close, but we trade away a nice player for a guy that I think Crain is better than. Last night though, he did what he was supposed to do. So, I'll give him a pat on the back.






Now we start a 3 game series with the Mariners. They are gonna throw Jason Vargas at us. He beat us the last time he faced us going 7 innings and gave up just 6 hits and 1 run. He did walk 3 though, so hopefully we can be patient. We will give them Big Spot Scott. He got the win against the Mariners last time he faced them. He went 5 innings, gave up 3 runs and walked 4. Hey, it's the 2nd half of the season, Baker is always better the second half....must be those bars he hits during innings and after he gets pulled.



I see us winning tonight 5-2. And I see the Sox losing against the Yanks. We are sitting on a 3.5 game lead. If the cards fall they way they should, we should be heading home to face the Tigers with a nice 5.5 game lead.



My prescription for a win tonight: Bake needs to no shake tonight. When he gets hit around a bit he starts to doubt himself. He walks around the mound, rubs his face and just looks lost. It's amazing because when he is on, he has some really nasty stuff, but once a team picks on him a little bit, he looks like he wants to run and hide. I have faith we will see Big Spot Scott tonight and Not Big Shot Scott.

M I N N E S O T A....MINNESOTA...MINNESOTA..GOOOOOOO GOPHERS!

The schedule has been released and here is how it looks. My predictions will be bold. That's how confident I am. I left off the 2 exhibition games as those don't really matter.

Fri., November 12 Wofford College: This will be a WIN

Mon., November 15 Siena College: This will be a WIN



Puerto Rico Challenge

Thurs., November 18 Western Kentucky: This will be a WIN

Fri., November 19 Puerto Rico Tip-Off = Hopefully UNC-This will be LOSS

Sun., November 21 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Puerto Rico- Not sure who they would be playing



Wed., November 24 North Dakota State Williams Arena



Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Mon., November 29 Virginia: This will be a WIN



Sat., December 4 Cornell: This will be a WIN

Wed., December 8 @ St Joseph's: This will be a WIN

Sat., December 11 Eastern Kentucky: This will be a WIN

Wed., December 15 Akron: This will be a WIN

Wed., December 23 South Dakota State: This will be a WIN

Tues., December 29 @ Wisconsin: This will be a WIN

Fri., December 31 @ Michigan State: This will be a LOSS

Tues., January 4 Indiana: This will be a WIN

Sun., January 9 @ Ohio State: This will be a WIN

Thurs., January 13 Purdue: This will be a WIN

Sun., January 16 Iowa: This will be a WIN

Sat., January 22 @ Michigan: This will be a WIN

Wed., January 26 Northwestern: This will be a WIN

Sat., January 29 @ Purdue: This will be a LOSS

Wed., February 2 @ Indiana: This will be a WIN

Sun., February 6 Ohio State: This will be a LOSS

Thurs., February 10 Illinois: This will be a LOSS

Sun., February 13 @ Iowa: This will be a WIN

Thurs., February 17 @ Penn State: This will be a WIN

Tues., February 22 Michigan State: This will be a WIN

Sat., February 26 Michigan: This will be a WIN

March 2 or 3 @ Northwestern: This will be a LOSS

Sun., March 6 Penn State: This will be a WIN



So that leaves us with a record of 21-6 (not adding the 3rd game of the Challenge) overall and 13-5 in the big ten. I think we will get a bye in the big ten tourny and fight our way into the championship game again. Hopefully with better results this time. I will preview and predict every game on a week by week basis as well. Until then, go gophers and lets make Canada pay.

And the results are in......

So here is my draft break down by round. It's a 10 person league with 16 rounds. I started out with the 5th pick. I have posted some comments next to the players. Feel free to let me know what you think.

1. (5) Ray Rice: I think he will continue to dominate like he did last year. Didn't think I would get him, but the 3rd pick took Aaron Rodgers...

2. (16) Reggie Wayne: Stud....enough said

3. (25) Greg Jennings: If Aaron Rodgers is going to blow up this year, let Jennings be a part of that.

4. (36) Brett Favre: This might seem a little early, but all the other QB's were gone.

5. (45) Ronnie Brown: That ankle is fine, and he is ready to play.

6. (56) Visanthe Shiancoe: No Rice, Harvin might die....Shank dog will benefit.

7. (65) Marion Barber: Nice value here with the 65 pick. He will be the starter at some point

8. (76) Santana Moss: McNabb is the best QB he has had. Had almost 1,000 yards last year. Nice pick

9. (85) Donovan McNabb: Still there with the 85th pick....wish I wouldn't have taken Favre so early.

10. (96) New Orleans: Lets hope they keep the pick 6 going.

11. (105) Jerome Harrison: Nice back up against the right team. He carried me in the playoffs last year.

12. (116) Vincent Jackson: Find a team and play. This would be the steal of the draft if you do that buddy.

13. (125) Mohamed Massaquoi: Who???

14. (136) Jerricho Cotchery: Meh, he will be a trade piece I'm sure.

15. (145) Heath Miller: Nice back up TE, probably won't stick around very long.

16. (156) Lawrence Tynes: Wooooo what a steal. Cough




Well, there you have it. That is the roster that will win the league. It might not look like much now, but with trades and everything else that comes along in the season, this is a winning team.



My prescription for a win in week 1 is:



Favre

Rice

Brown

Jennings

Wayne

Moss

Shiancoe

New Orleans D

Tynes




Well, thanks for reading and good luck in your draft. Be happy you aren't playing me. You might actually have a shot at winning.



If you are wondering why there is a picture of captain caveman....that's my team name

The Texas 3 step.

Well, looks the Rangers weren't very happy about us sweeping them at our place. They are going to try and one up us tonight by finishing off a 4 game sweep. I have to be honest, I didn't see this coming. Sure, C.J. Wilson has been pitching very well this year (13-5 with a nice era of 3.02) but I still thought we would win. We were playing good baseball up until this last 3 games. We need to win this 4th game in order to get back on our feet. This will show that we can at least take a punch in the mouth, fall down and stagger our way back to our feet. Sure, it would only be 1-4 against a team we are more than likely going to be fighting for home field advantage with, but a win is a win. We got lucky last night thanks the O's beating the Sox. Seems like they kind of have their number. If there was one bright spot in last nights game, it was Danny V. He went 3-4 and is just a stud at 3rd. I can see why they are calling him the 3rd baseman of the future. It was nice, but it wasn't enough. We are having problems winning right now, but lets hope Franky can put his game face on and get us this win tonight. I know we will still probably win the division, just don't want to win it because another team lost it. I'm not hitting the panic button yet, but if we fail to beat these guys when they come here again on Labor Day weekend....consider the button pushed.

My prescription for a win tonight: Franky can't look like he doesn't care. I hate when he has that face on. We need Mauer to get some big hits. Double plays just aren't doing it in this series. I say we win 7-2. The bats will wake up a little bit.


Fantasy draft results shortly.

Fantasy Football draft tonight. Are you ready for some foo.....(Punch) Shut up Hank!

This guy was only 22 when this picture was taken. He had a rough Fantasy Football season. Some say that fantasy football is a fun way to enjoy the football season. I say, screw that. You pay X amount of $'s to have a stress filled weekend. Not only that, but you have your buddies trash talking and sending you stupid trade proposals. Sure, it can be fun when you win, but what are the chances of that? Sure, you might start out hot. You get the number one pick! Awesome! Next thing you know, he is out for the season. Just a few years ago, I took Tom Brady in the first round. Not first pick, so take it easy. What happens; he gets hurt and is out for the season. The bastard didn't even play one quarter. I digress. See, that is another thing I hate about fantasy football. Bitching. I hate to say it, but it's worse than poker stories. The good thing is that it only last for a few months. Do people really care how you would have won the week if your top running back wasn't part of a platoon? Or how if they didn't pull Brady or Moss (me bitching again.....it's my blog) in the 4th because the Pats are killing whoever it was they played, you would have won? I have the quick answer for you. NO! No one cares. I think I'm just going to start telling my boss I would have been to work in time, if only the guy in front of me would have ran the yellow light. I'm sure she would understand and give me a monster raise.

I have my draft tonight and we don't know what pick we will have until about 30 mins before the draft starts. Stress is already setting in. If I get the first pick, do I take AP or Johnson? Do I think outside the box and take Brees? Sound dumb? Well, there are a lot more running backs that can get you points than QB's. Do I try to make a deal with the first pick and take a good ransom off of someone who just really loves AP. We are in the state of Homers after all. I don't know what I will do or who I will pick. I do know this, I will fall into the game and talk about how I should have won. I will make trades and rob people when they really want someone that I have. I will blog about it here and hope that someone reads it besides me.....doubtful. Except for Ben. Hi Ben. Anyway. It should be a fun season and I'm looking forward to making you feel my pain (or glory) along the way with me.

Prescription to not stress out during Fantasy: Don't play it. It's kind of like asking, "How can I stop smoking?". You just do. Hell, fantasy might make you start.

Sidefx of the Vikings getting Greg Camarillo

Greg will steal your mom

Stop the press!!! Blockbuster trade!!! No, not really, but this should help. Benny Sapp has been shipped to Miami in exchange for 4th year wide out Greg Camarillo. With Chris Cook and Asher Allen playing well this pre-season and with Winfield healthy, Sapp was expendable. Camarillo stats don't jump out at you (50 catches for 552 yards and no touchdowns), but he is a warm body, that doesn't have a never ending headache, or a bad hip. Who knows, maybe he can be the Greg Lewis of this year. Hey, that one catch made him famous and got him the popular "best play of the year" ESPY.

My prescription for people who aren't happy with the move:

It was Sapp, take 2 Advil (ones that haven't been recalled), watch Cook grow and call me at the Bye Week.

My prescription for people who are happy/indifferent with the move:

Have a beer...on me. You get it.

Sidefx of the twins losing the frist 2 games againt the rangers...

Well, so far, so bad. The Twins have lost the first two games of the series with the Rangers. They did so in bad fashion. They didn't move runners over, they only got a single hit in the first game. This is a big series for a lot of reasons:

1. Who ever has the better record between us and Texas, will more than likely get home field advantage in the playoffs in the first round. If we tie with them, we need to own a better head to head record.

2. We need to show we can step it up against the top teams in the AL. Sure, we can pound on the Royals, Tigers, Indians and Sox, but we need to show we can step out of our division, or we will just be a one and done again.

Those are the two biggest reasons. I know I said a lot, but it's more quality than quantity.

Hopefully we can go out and get them in these next two games just like we did against the Rays a few weeks back.

That is all the time I have for now (lunch break is over at work) but I will be on here at least 3-4 times a week.

Feel free to email me with any comments our things you would like me to talk about.