Friday - 8:34 p.m. UPDATE - The Baseball Savant wrote me Friday afternoon to tell me about his most recent posting. Have you ever had to deal with office politics? Have you ever had to ask someone in Human Resources a question to clarify a company policy? The Savant recently had quite the experience. I wasn't sure what it would be about, but please read it here. It is absolutely a ridiculous situation and one that I think anyone who works in an office, a lab, or well, anywhere will find very interesting!! I am honestly shocked by what happened to him! Oh, and on a separate note, he tells me that his team previews will likely begin this weekend with the hated New York Yankees.
It's 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning. I am in my house. I just checked weather.com. It says that it is actually only -21 degrees. It says it 'feels like' -41. That's actually not bad. I had heard it was going to be worse than that! If you're interested in the weather, or even just the temperature, in Warroad, MN, right at the top of the state, just click right here.
Friday, January 14, 2005
2004 Twins Rookie Cards
I have written a couple of times in the past about baseball cards. I have also written about how I love talking about minor leaguers, prospects and rookies. What is the common ground? Of course, I am a big fan of Rookie Cards. I used to buy a lot of cards. In recent years, I have bought just one or two boxes of cards a year. First, the town I live in really doesn’t have any, and also because I just can’t really afford it! I have decided to buy a box of Bowman each year. They're plenty expensive, but aren't as much as the Bowman Chrome or many of the other premium card sets.
I have been subscribing to Beckett Baseball Card Monthly since December of 1988. For the past six years, they have added a Rookie Card Rolodex. The newest issue (Feb. 2005) contains the 2004 Rookie rolodex; information on all 550 players whose rookie cards came out in 2004! Now, if you go back to the previous paragraph and add that my favorite team is the Minnesota Twins, what better for me to discuss than the 2004 Minnesota Twins rookie cards. If you’re interested in collecting Twins baseball cards, and want rookies, check out this list! (Here are the 2003 Twins rookie cards)
In all, 16 players in the Twins organization had their first showings on a major league baseball card in 2003. You won’t find the likes of JD Durbin (2003), Joe Mauer (2002), Justin Morneau (2001), Michael Restovich (1999) or Michael Cuddyer (1998) on this list, however, because they had major league cards in previous years.
Beckett does some analysis on each player. They discuss where the player was drafted or signed out of, how they did in 2004, their prospects for the 2005 season and Analysis of what the player could become. They list out each of that player’s rookie cards (I will just give the number of cards for the year). Although it is subjective, my favorite part of the analysis is the "Best Compared To" information. It is pretty self-explanatory, but it is basically giving the name of one major league player that the rookie is most similar to. It is pretty honest, as you will see from the Twins rookies. For instance Devil Rays top pitching prospect Scott Kazmir is Best Compared To Johan Santana. However, Orioles SS "prospect" Pete Shier is Best Compared To Erick Almonte. I don’t know if I would be real excited about collecting his cards!
So, let’s get to the analysis from Beckett Baseball Card Monthly’s Rookie Card Rolodex on the 16 players in the Minnesota Twins organization who had rookie cards in 2004 (in alphabetical order). For further information on some of these players, be sure to check out my thoughts in my Top 26 Twins Prospects.Jason Bartlett - 25 year old right handed SS out of the University of Oklahoma
2004 - hit .331-3-29 with 7 3B at AAA
Prospects for 2005 - Departure of Cristian Guzman to Washington opens door for Bartlett
Analysis - Will be given shot at starting SS position in spring training
Best Compared To - Jack Wilson
Rookie Cards - 32.
Patrick Bryant - 19 year old, 6-4 right handed pitcher was the 6th Round pick in 2004 out of Pensacola (Fla.) Catholic HS
2004 - 2-2, 4.26 ERA with 1 save and 21 K’s in 31.2 IP with the rookie league Twins
Prospects for 2005 - Low Class A
Analysis - Spot Starter but should make mark in bullpen
Best Compared To - JD Durbin
Rookie Cards - 3
Jesse Crain - 23 year old righty was the Twins 2nd round pick in 2002 out of University of Houston.
2004 - 3-0, 2.00 in 27 IP (22 appearances) in the Minnesota bullpen
Prospects for 2005 - Twins Bullpen
Analysis - Set-up role for now, but could be future all-star closer.
Best Compared To - Keith Foulke
Rookie Cards - 13
Matt Fox - 22 year old right-hander was Twins supplemental 1st Round Pick in 2004 out of University of Central Florida.
2004- 2-1, 5.40 with 32 K’s in 26.2 IP at rookie league.
Prospects for 2004 - Class A
Analysis - Strikeout pitcher who should develop into middle of the rotation starter
Best Compared To - Matt Clement
Rookie Cards - 7
Luke Hughes - 20 year old 2B who signed with the Twins as free agent in 2002 from Australia.
2004 - .284-3-19 in 141 AB at Rookie League.
Prospects for 2005 - Low Class A
Analysis - After playing 3B and SS, looks like 2B will be his position.
Best Compared To - John McDonald
Rookie Cards - 6.
Colby Miller - 22 year old, 6-2 righty was the Twins 3rd round pick in 2000 out of Weatherford (Okla.) HS
2004 - 3-7, 5.83 ERA, 39 K in 78 IP at AA New Britain
Prospects for 2005 - AA or AAA
Analysis - Bottom-of-rotation starter
Best Compared To - Todd Ritchie
Rookie Cards - 18.
Eduardo Morlan - 18 year old, 6-2 righty was Twins 3rd round pick in 2004
2004 - 1-2, 2.84 wit 1 save in 25.1 IP at instructional league
Prospects for 2005 - Low Class A
Analysis - Can start or relieve, but Twins likely to use in bullpen
Best Compared To - Danys Baez
Rookie Cards - 3
Matt Moses -19 year old lefty-hitting 3B was the Twins 1st round pick in 2003 out of Mills Godwin HS in Richmond, VA
2004 - .223-3-14 in 112 AB at short-season Class A (Seth - Correction - He did this at Low A, Quad Cities)
Prospects for 2005 - High Class A
Analysis - Lefthanded hitter able to drive the ball in the gaps; spent time on the DL in ’04 with a bulging disc in his back
Best Compared To - Corey Koskie
Rookie Cards - 11
Brock Peterson - 21 year old 3B/1B was Twins 49th round pick in 2002
2004 - .253/7/65 at Low Class A
Prospects for 2005 - High Class A
Analysis - Twins want him to play more 3B
Best Compared To - Wes Helms
Rookie Cards - 5
Trevor Plouffe - 18 year old SS was Twins 1st round pick in 2004 out of Crespi HS in Northridge, Calif.
2004 - .283/4/28 in 237 at bats at rookie league
Prospects for 2005 - Low Class A
Analysis - Strong-armed infielder who can also hit, and hit for some power
Best Compared To - Khalil Greene
Rookie Cards - 7
Jay Rainville - 19 year old 6-3 righty was a Twins supplemental 1st round pick in 2004 out of Bishop Hendrickson HS in Pawtucket, RI (same high school as D-Rays Rocco Baldelli)
2004 - 3-2, 1.83 with 38 K’s and 3 walks in 34 IP at rookie league
Prospects for 2005 - Low Class A
Analysis - Top of the rotation power pitcher
Best Compared To - (A young) Roger Clemens
Rookie Cards - 9
Mark Robinson -18 year old OF was Twins 4th Round Pick in 2004.
2004 .215-1-14 with 24 K’s and 5 BB in 135 AB at instructional league
Prospects for 2005 - (left blank… I don’t know what they’re saying!)
Analysis - Advanced high school hitter who should improve as he continues to grow
Best Compared To - Bobby Kielty
Rookie Cards - 3
Alex Romero - 21 year old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2000 from Venezuela
2004 - .292-6-42 with more walks (54) than strikeouts (47) at Class A Ft. Myers
Prospects for 2005 - Double-A
Analysis - switch-hitter who gets on base
Best Compared To - Matt Lawton
Rookie Cards - 7
Anthony Swarzak - 19 year old, 6-3 righty was Twins 2nd round pick in 2004.
2004 - 5-3, 2.63, 42 K’s and 6 BB in 48 IP at rookie league
Prospects for 2005 - Short-season Class A
Analysis - Likes to compete; top-of-the-rotation starter
Best Compared To - Freddy Garcia
Rookie Cards - 4.
James Tomlin - the 22 year old OF was the Twins 7th round pick in 2000 out of St. Bernard HS in Los Angeles. Signed with Twins as free agent in 2002.
2004 - .216-1-34, 13 SBs, in 490 ABs in AA
Prospects for 2005 - AA
Analysis - Reserve OF whose game is speed
Best Compared To - Doug Glanville
Rookie Cards - 4.
Kyle Waldrop - 19 year old 6-5 righty was Twins 1st round pick in 2004 out of Farragut HS, in Knoxville, TN
2004 - 5-2, 2.14 with 55 K’s and 7 BB in 63 IP at two rookie league stops
Prospects for 2005 - Short-Season Class A
Analysis - Top-of-the-rotation starter
Best Compared To - Carl Pavano
Rookie Cards - 9SETH’S THOUGHTS
I remember when it was cool to get a rookie card of a player that had "no major league experience" written on the back of the card. I remember the Donruss Rated Rookie cards from ’88 and ’89 of Mark Grace, Roberto Alomar and Ken Griffey Jr. They were special. Normally a player had to at least make a brief appearance in the big leagues first. Now, it is unusual that a rookie doesn’t already have a few years of cards. I’ll be honest, I don’t like that very much.
I also remember in 1988 when Topps first started putting a few first round draft picks into their regular set. Then in 1990, Score included mug shots of all of the first-round picks from the 1989 draft. I loved that concept. A couple of years ago, sets like Bowman Draft Picks and eventually regular, late-season sets started including draft picks that signed. This year, I see that there are cards of players that were drafted not only in the first few rounds, but as low as the 14th round, maybe lower. That seems to be a bit excessive.
I do like that there are so many Twins draft picks in these sets though. The Twins had a lot of draft picks in 2004 because of the losses of Eddie Guardado and LaTroy Hawkins. From the analysis and projections for the guys that the Twins took, they did very well! Trevor Plouffe, Kyle Waldrop (top-of-the-rotation starter), Jay Rainville (top-of-the-rotation power pitcher), Matt Fox (strikeout pitcher, middle-of-the-rotation), Anthony Swarzak (top-of-the-rotation starter). I understand that these guys are all young and the whole concept that there is no such thing as a pitching prospect. But the Twins have strength in numbers and top level pitching prospects, and numbers are huge! It is also interesting to me that there are no Glen Perkins rookie cards in 2004. I know he signed a little bit later than the others, but he did sign well before the minor league seasons were done.
I am surprised that Jason Bartlett and especially Jesse Crain did not have rookie cards before this year.
THE OTHER PERSPECTIVE
I showed above who Beckett compared the Twins rookies to. Well, let’s turn that around and look at which prospects were compared to current (or recent, former) Twins players. I won’t include the Twins rookies mentioned as comparable to other Twins as they are already mentioned above:Nick Adenhart, P - Anaheim Angels - Boof Bonser
Dusty Bergman, LHP - Anaheim Angels - Joe Beimel (OUCH!)
Randy Dicken - RHP - Toronto Blue Jays - Grant Balfour
Jeff Fiorentino - C - Baltimore Orioles - AJ Pierzyinski
Shawn Hill - RHP - Washington Nationals - Kyle Lohse
Joe Jacobitz - OF - Seattle Mariners - Bobby Kielty
Scott Kazmir - LHP - Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Johan Santana
Kevin Kouzmanoff - OF - Cleveland Indians - Shannon Stewart
Chris Lambert - RHP - St. Louis Cardinals - Brad Radke
Mark Lowe - RHP - Seattle Mariners - Joe Nathan
Marty McLeary - RHP - San Diego Padres - LaTroy Hawkins
Tommy Murphy - SS - Anaheim Angels - Cristian Guzman
Fernando Perez - OF - Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Lew Ford
John Santor - 1B - St. Louis Cardinals - Todd SearsAny thoughts on Beckett’s analysis, or my thoughts, or any of these players? If there are bloggers from other team’s web sites who would like similar analysis for player’s in their organization, please let me know. E-mail me.
:Those who read the articles of Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press know the read what he writes with a grain of salt. He is their equivalent to Sid Hartman of the Star-Tribune. The other day, Walters wrote the following:
The Twins have made their first offer to pitcher Johan Santana: $19.5 million for three years. Industry sources say it could take as much as $48 million over four years to sign the Cy Young Award winner to a multiyear deal.
The first year of the Twins' offer is for $4.5 million, significantly less than the left-hander could win in salary arbitration. While the Twins want to sign Santana, 25, to a three-year deal, Santana is seeking a two-year or four-year contract.
The Twins are expected to make a four-year offer as early as today.
Roy Halladay of Toronto, the 2003 American League Cy Young Award winner, received a $42 million, four-year contract. To sign Santana, the Twins might have to offer $6 million next season, $10 million in 2006, and $16 million in 2007 and 2008. Santana, who finished 20-6 with a 2.61 earned-run average, earned $1.6 million in 2004
OK, is it just me, or are the Twins intentionally trying to make Johan more and more upset at them. He has been upset in the past for not being thrown in the starting rotation sooner. Then in 2003, he was to be in the rotation, but late in training camp, the team signed Kenny Rogers which sent Santana back to the bullpen for half the season. Since entering the starting rotation, he has been the best pitcher in baseball. I don't even know what the purpose of proposing the 3 year, $19.5 million contract is. And, for him to make $4.5 million in 2005 is ridiculous. He could almost make double that if he went to arbitration. I also think that a 4 year deal would be ideal. And I think the annual salaries would have to be a minimum of $6 million, $8 million, $10 million and $12 million. So that makes a 4 year, $36 million deal. Those numbers could go up to $8 million, $10 million, $12 million, $15 million if he is going by market value. That is a 4 year, $45 million deal.
Again, I don't know what will happen. I guess the team take their chances and go to arbitration with Santana. He can't leave the team this year, or next. But signing a long-term deal would protect the Twins from paying him too much every year. Of course, from the other side, Santana would be protected in the event that he was injured, aka Joe Mays.
So, I would come back with a 4 year, $35 million offer, and then see what Santana's entourage wants and come up with something in the middle. I think that Santana is a player that is special enough that the Twins should go above and beyond any salary cap restrictions they may self-impose. He brings in fans and sells merchandise. He is worth whatever the team gives him!
As you can imagine, Aaron Gleeman talks about the Johan situation in detail as well. Batgirl discusses it as well, and has a LOT of great comments from her readers. Read more on it at Twins Killings.
What do you think about this? E-mail me.
In that same Walters' article, he writes:
The Twins have offered another pitcher, Carlos Silva, $4 million for two years, but that's considered too low. Silva was paid $340,000 last season, when he finished 14-8 with a 4.21 ERA.
If Silva goes to arbitration this year, he will likely make between $1.5 and $2 million. If he has another season like he did in 2004, he would likely jump to between $3 and $4 million in 2006. But I do think that the Twins initial offer is at least in a fair ballpark. They could give him $1.4 in 2005 and $2.6 in 2006. Sure, Silva could make more by just signing single year deals. However, I think that there are questions about his starting abilities since last year was just his first as a starter. Can he hold up again? That is why a guaranteed $4 million deal may be worth accepting. Personally, I don't think healthy will be a problem and would expect that Silva will put up similar, if not better, numbers next year.
OK, I have spent time defending Randy Moss since Sunday afternoon when he fake-mooned the Green Bay crowd. I have mentioned all kinds of reasons why it was overreacted to. Yesterday, the NFL fined Moss $10,000 for the act and sent him a rather blunt letter to go with it. One thing to note is that Jake Plummer got fined just $5,000 when he flipped off an opponent's crowd during a game. I would consider that far worse than what Moss did. However, Moss is a repeat offender, so to speak, to the NFL's discipline committees, so I have no problem with his fine being what it was.
Actually, Randy Moss didn't really have a problem with the fine either. When asked about it, he said, "Ain't nothing but 10 grand. What's 10 grand to me?" Now if he would have only left it at that, everyone could have laughed it away. But he didn't. He continued by saying that maybe the next time, he would shake a different part of his anatomy than his butt.
And, my defense of Randy Moss ended. I shouldn't say it quite like that; I will judge each case on its own merits or negatives. But that comment was flat-out offensive. Offensive to even me, and not much offends me. Sure, I laughed again. It is funny. However, that goes beyond necessary. And, I have to ask myself, does Moss not have the self-control , or maybe even the intelligence to know when enough is enough? I know there are a lot of people, myself included who are jealous that he can say, "What's 10 grand to me?" It's not quite Latrell Sprewell saying "I've got to feed my children," but I can see where that would offend some.
But to make the one additional sentence, I just have to ask "Why?!?!?!" What was that necessary to say? No, I don't think that it is something that the NFL should fine him for. I don't think that they should have to. He was getting into his car and a cameraman asked him a question. I don't think the NFL should have any say in that. I just question why he would say that. The comparisons are being made to Dennis Rodman. Is that fair? Rodman was a distraction off the court, but got the job done on the court. Moss is as valuable as any player on a football field, but has become an off-the-field distraction.
I found this stat very interesting: "Moss -- who signed an eight-year, $75 million contract in 2001 -- made $5.75 million this season. Thursday's fine is the equivalent of $52 for a person who earns $30,000 a year."
Here is what Deion Sanders had to say about Moss:
Randy is the kind of dude that … he's like a beautiful woman who can't cook, doesn't want to clean and doesn't want to take care of kids. You really don't want her, but she's so beautiful that you can't let her go. But Randy, you have to take the good with the bad. Unfortunately, when the bad is bad, it's really bad, but there's so much good, you can look past it.
Interesting perspective, I guess. Ha! I honestly don't even know what to think at this point. I am not mad or upset that he said it. I just don't understand what happens inside a person's head, psychologically, to make him say that. Maybe someone can explain it to me, please... E-mail me.
Saturday - 3:30 p.m. - Pittsburgh Steelers 16, NY Jets 13
Saturday - 7:00 p.m. - Atlanta Falcons 27, St. Louis Rams 28
Sunday - 12:00 p.m. - Philadelphia Eagles 20, Minnesota Vikings 24
Sunday - 3:30 p.m. - New England Patriots 29, Indianapolis Colts 17
What do you think? Can the Vikings win? Can the weather be the thing to slow down the Colts? Any thoughts on any of the games? E-mail me.
Want to know what former Twins 3B Mike Pagliurulo is up to these days, as well as his thoughts on his days with the Twins and winning that World Series ring in 1991, click here.
Maybe the best news for Twins fans has to do with a pain-free Joe Mauer! His health could be crucial to the Twins 2005 success. With Mauer and Justin Morneau in the middle of the Twins lineup, I just can't wait to watch.
I've talked on a few occasions that I absolutely love Da Ali G Show. I recently bought Season 1 on DVD and love it! Season 2 was also great! Sasha Baron Cohen is the actor/comedian who portrays three characters on the show, including Khazakstani reporter Borat. Recently, while filming a scene for next season, Cohan's Borat character almost incited a riot at a rodeo in Roanoke, Virginia. He said some words in favor of the war, kind of. And then he 'sang' the national anthem. I can't wait to see that episode on HBO.
What do you call 10,000 lawyers at the bottom of Lake Michigan? A good start. OK, that is an old lawyer joke that isn't really all that funny. However, two men outside a courthouse on Long Island were recently arrested for telling lawyer's jokes. The two were waiting in a line and told the jokes. Many in the line laughed, but a lawyer in front of them got them arrested for disorderly conduct!
American Idol starts on Fox next week! I can't wait. In recent seasons, the women have been more represented in the final 24. Well, this year, there will be 12 men and 12 women in that round. After that, it will go by talent and votes. Also, the age limit used to be 24, but now contestants can be as old as 28.
Bud Selig's team, the Milwaukee Brewers, was finally, officially sold yesterday. I guess it is finally true that Selig is no longer an owner! Finally!
The owners and players agreed on penalties for steroids. Players can be tested throughout the season. If a player fails a test, they will be suspended ten games. With a fourth failed test, the player would be suspended for a year. All suspensions will be without pay. The Players Union really wanted this, in order to clear the names of the innocent, really. Some may say that the penalties are too lenient. I think they're fair, at least as a starting point. We will find out how big of an issue it really is, and how many people are suspended. I am sure that if it becomes more epidemic, it could be changed to increase the penalties.
Comparing the search for women to an NBA, NHL or any sports' draft. An interesting look by BrentNet today!
Will Sammy Sosa be traded over the weekend?
I've talked about how srprising the Gophers men basketball team has been this year. But I am also surprised at how well the women's team has done. Yes, they still have a lot of talent particularly in Janel McCarville, but I expected a little drop off, or at least for it to take some time, to adjust to life after Lindsey Whalen. But with their 58-38 win over #20 Purdue last night, they are now 15-2! The Gophers are ranked #11.
Will Carlos Delgado or Magglio Ordonez pick a team?
GH and Petey's Timberwolves Blog is now out there, and well worth checking out!
Rick Helling signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. If he makes the team, he would make $550,000.
On that note, I am going to call it a day. I hope you have a great weekend! If you have any comments, opinions, or ideas for future articles, please e-mail me.