To get this out of the way, thanks to the Minnesota Twins for another fun season. As tough as it is to once again watch the team fall again in the postseason against the Yankees (flailing away in pathetic fashion while doing so) it can't be denied that this was a very special baseball season for many reasons. It's just that most of them had nothing to do with the team on the field.
The impact that Target Field has had on this city, and the whole summer in general, can't be emphasized enough. Ballgames are an event, rather than something we feel obligated to do only when given free tickets for a big game. Downtown Minneapolis is now a regular destination, rather than a rare stopover for the odd concert or random night out. The whole thing has just been a very cool addition to a part of town that needed a shot in the arm.
As I sat outside yesterday, having a pregame beer on a patio and enjoying the indian summer sun, I kept thinking over and over just how great it was I'd never again have to walk inside the teflon monstrosity that was the Dome on another beautiful day. While us Twins fans are far from content with how things played out, and not ready to resign ourselves completely to the "at least the park is fun" existence of Royals or Cubs fans, it has to be admitted that even another playoff choke is easier to take in those new surroundings. If they can pair up a great team with that great venue, well then that will truly be something. See you next April Twinkies (yup, you get the Twinkies, you've earned it this week).
Elsewhere in the world of loser teams, the Vikings acquisition of Randy Moss is now front and center on the local sports scene. When I addressed it Wednesday, details were still being hammered out, since then things have become much clearer and the principal players have spoken publicly about how things went down. At first I was a bit gun shy on things, worried that some ungodly amount of money was going to be handed over to a notoriously fickle player. But I have to say, the more I hear about it, the more I like the move.
Other than agreeing not to put on a franchise or transition tag that would limit Moss' free agent options, the team doesn't seem to be giving up much at all here. While it does strike me as odd that the guy would view his situation in Minnesota any different than the one in New England, Randy Moss is just a pretty odd guy in general, so I'm not sure how much to infer about his motivations. As a pending free agent, you'd think it would be in his best interests to tear up the league in a Patriots offense he knows, rather than try and do so while stepping into a Vikings uniform at the season's quarter pole. Instead he once again has appeared to sulk his way off a team, just like he did in his first go-around here.
Perhaps the comments from yesterday's news conference ring true, and he really is just "glad to be back home"; but given his past history here, that seems a bit dubious. Randy Moss is a frontrunner who's great to have when you're storming the trenches, but not the guy you want beside you in a foxhole. As far as I can recollect, he's been that way his entire career. Did I miss the part where he showed some great affinity for the state of Minnesota?
At any rate, it's a very exciting development from an organization that never seems to be in short supply of those lately. Just sitting around and hearkening back to the glory days of the Moss Show is enough to get someone excited for the prospects that this acqusition provides, and without leveraging the future through a big money contract, there really is no downside. It's extremely unlikely, but possible we just caught one of the all-time lucky breaks here. From Moss Part I, to Stephon Marbury, to Insert NBA Free Agent Name Here, Minnesota is very rarely a place where players WANT to play. Turning back the clock to the golden age of the Metrodome long-ball era would go a long way in making up for those slights.
Still need a split in the next 4 though, this might be too little, too late, we'll see.
Helluva interesting turn, thought I was off the hook here, damn them for sucking me back in :)
Week 5 picks:
Last week: 8-6
Season: 22-24-2 (Quest for .500 is on!)
BALTIMORE (no line) over Denver - Denver's better than I gave them credit for, but a TD or less and I'm going Ravens here
Kansas City +7.5 over INDIANAPOLIS - While I did pick the Jaguars to cover against the Colts last week, no part of me thought they would actually win. I like a methodical Colts victory here, something in the 4-6 range, so taking the points. Not a huge fan of this pick, but the Chiefs coming off a bye against an Indy team who's D looks shaky is just enough to convince me it will be close. Then again, the last time the Colts played at home in a bounce-back game, they TKO'd the Giants in the first half. Screw it, KC covers are treating me good this season, ride her til she bucks ya.
Tampa Bay +7 over CINNCINATTI - And now I'm about to take two 7+ road underdogs? No guts, no glory...and no busted kneecaps, but hey...
CAROLINA +3 OVER Chicago - Picked the Bears last week in a knee-jerk reaction to the win over Green Bay, after spending 4 paragraphs talking about how the Packers should've routed them. Dumb. Always great when you get a Week 4 matchup of QBs who didn't open the season as the starter.
Atlanta -3 over CLEVELAND - Browns were cagey and underrated, but when your rating is 'Crap', that just means you beat other crap teams. Atlanta isn't crap, despite the fact they sometimes give off that vibe.
HOUSTON -3 over New York Giants - Tough road game for a Giants team that's looked brutal away from home so far.
DETROIT -3 over St. Louis - Could be one of the Top 5 "Better than it looked when the schedule came out" games of the season. Both of these teams are at least making plays, St Louis is actually even winning some games. Probably the starkest QB contrast even, Golden Boy vs. Journeyman, bet San Fran would take Shaun Hill back right about now.
BUFFALO +1 over Jacksonville - I'm thinking letdown game for the Jags, but there's also a lot of potential for 4 TDs out of MoJo. Would stay far, far away with actual dollars.
Green Bay -3 over Washington - Loving the chinks appearing in the Packers armor these days, hating the fact the my fantasy football season is depending on Aaron Rodgers. Any way the Pack can just lose 42-39 every week? The way their D has looked lately, it might be possible.
New Orleans -7 over Arizona - Spread would have to crack 20 before I'd bat an eye
Tennessee +7 over DALLAS - Titans lose a tight one. Say that 5 times fast.
San Diego -6.5 over OAKLAND - Two massive road eggs laid by the Chargers so far, but they looked like a team who had things clicking pretty well last week.
Philadelphia +3.5 over SAN FRANCISCO - Last week was my "Niners play for their lives!" week, and it almost worked. Now I've moved onto "Niners fold the tents". Kevin Kolb has been abysmal, is it time for someone to tell him he's one more bad game away from having to fear for his life on the streets of Philly? Motivation or just added pressure there?
NEW YORK JETS -4 over Minnesota - Lotta sizzle, not enough steak, unless the Vikings defense can pull off a massive effort here, I don't see them hanging with the Jets. Possible that the Sanchize has a 3 INT game lurking beneath the surface there? Sure, but probably not against a team with no DBs who can catch.
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