Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Sleep is Needed...
So today will be rather short! I do apologize. But, I am going to try to talk some Twins, post a few links, and of course, give you some American Idol coverage. So, help me out and let's get the Comments rolling.
TWINS THOUGHTS
Before we get started on the news, please consider this great Buy One, Get One Free deal from Twin Cities Dugout. There really is some good content, so consider it!
The Twins were again on Fox Sports North last night. They lost 6-5 to the Boston Red Sox. The big story of the night was that Glen Perkins got the start. Some seemed to think that he was being given a shot at a spot in the rotation. I don't know if I ever bought that. As good as he looked for the Twins in three or four games last September, he was not even great at AA New Britain last year. There was no way that Terry Ryan was going to let him on the Opening Day roster. I think it is fair to say that Perkins' two inning, four run, four walk, no strikeout performance got the thought of him making the starting staff incredibly unlikely. However, please don't mistake that for the Twins thinking any less of Perkins as a prospect, or of his potential. He is still very highly thought of, he just needs a month or two in Rochester to be ready. Personally, I never really bought the argument that he had a better shot at the rotation than Matt Garza either. Both are very highly thought of, and so is Kevin Slowey. But Garza is the one that is closest to being ready.
Luis Castillo was 2-3 and is hitting .500 this spring. I think he's ready for the regular season, even if he is a non-hustler!
I hate to say it, but am I the only one that thinks that Matthew Lecroy's big league career is done. He was 0-2 with two strikeouts. However, results are not always the indicator of ability. Sometimes you can watch a player and know that he is ready, or he is going to put himself in good positions to succeed. I feel I have that ability to some degree. When I watch Matthew Lecroy's at bats, here is what I see. I see bat-speed that makes Rondell White's bat speed of 2006 look swift! I see an approach at the plate that in no way resembles what we saw from Lecroy two or three years ago. He looks lost. He is swinging at bad pitches and taking called strikes. He is getting jammed frequently. Now, he had few at bats in 2006, and his season ended early when the Nationals released him mid-season. So, it is possible he could go to Rochester and find it again. Because of the person that he appears to be, I hope he does.
A couple of former Twins played against the Twins last night .David Ortiz DHd for the Red Sox and went 1-2 with three RBI. Alex Ochoa came in and went 0-1. JC Romero pitched a scoreless 7th inning, striking out the aforementioned Matthew Lecroy.
Plenty more former Twins played yesterday as well. Luis Rivas was 0-3 as Cleveland's 2B. Michael Restovich went 1-3 as the Nationals RF. Augie Ojeda came in and played some 2B for the Diamondbacks. He went 0-1. AJ Pierzynski went 0-2 for the White Sox. Joe Beimel gave up five runs (just one earned) in his inning for the Dodgers. Chris Gomez (SS) and Terry Tiffee (3B) were each 0-1 in reserve roles for the Orioles. Brent Abernathy went 0-3 playing 2B for the Phillies. Doug Mientkiewicz was 0-1 for the Yankees.
Jerry Bell was on TV last night saying that the Twins will proceed with their stadium efforts. Many ask me why I don't write about the stadium much. I know I've explained it before, but I'm just not worried about it. It is going to happen. Somehow. I have no fear that the Twins will move. That is all business. That is the work of people in suits at this point. I prefer to talk/write about the part that matters, the game! So, don't expect to read any stadium controversy here. You won't find it too often. I can't wait to get to an outdoor Twins game, but I'm no less a Twins fan with them in the Dome.
By the way, Gameday and The Twins Geek are back!! Check them out!
Last night was British Invasion Night on American Idol. Peter Noone of the great Herman's Hermits was helping out the guys. I was disappointed that no one sang Henry the 8th, although I was very happy that Chris Sligh brought the band and the song up. Of course, that's not really a singing competition song, but I would have been happy with Silhouettes, Wonderful World or Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter! But that's ok. And not one Beatles song?
And, there was the crying little girl. Am I the only one who simply found her more than a little creepy? I honestly don't know what to make of that. But I digress, let's get to my rankings for the week, followed by a couple of thoughts. In general, I thought it was a really great night for the competition. I thought about seven or eight sang very well, and even those that really didn't, they performed well and got some audience interaction, which is also very important.
Melinda Doolittle. Her song As Long As He Needs Me gave my goose bumps some goose bumps. She's amazing!
Jordin Sparks. Speaking of amazing... and chills! Jordin has been incredible the last two weeks. She was powerful and controlled with I Who Have Nothing.
Chris Sligh. She's Not There. Why do I like the performance? One, because I thought vocally he was impeccable. Two... I have been singing the song ever since he got done! "Please don't bother trying to find her... she's not theeeeerrreeee!"
Blake Lewis. You all know I'm a huge fan of his. He was controlled in his hip hop, electronics and he sang very well. He sang Time of the Season, which is another terrific song and a very good vocal!
Chris Richardson. Doesn't he play for the Golden State Warriors, and isn't he a dunk champion. Oh, wrong guy. Anyway, this Chris toned it down. It was a very solid vocal, but I thought the song "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" was a bit boring.
Stephanee Edwards. I thought that she was flat a few times, but 1.) she is very, very good. She has a controlled power in her voice, and 2.) You Don't Have to Say You Love Me is a wonderful song!
Lakisha Jones. It's strange having her down this far. And, it's not like she sang poorly, not at all. Her being down this far says a lot about the Top 6. Diamonds are Real was a good song and she did perform well. She's better than this though.
Phil Stacey. Tobacco Road. I thought that he sang OK. He did show plenty of range and strength. He had fun and performed well. But I thought he was all over the place. I realize that is part of the song, but compared to the seven above, I just didn't think it was in the same category at all.
Gina Glocksen. Paint it Black. Not Beatles, but at least we got to hear The Stones. She was good, solid, but vocally, she wasn't good. Then again, as a rocker, vocal is not as important as performance, and she did perform well.
Sanjaya Malakar. I can't put him last. Vocally, he is and was horrible. Terrible. Pick your negative word. However, Peter Moone was right in saying that this is more than a singing competition, and Sanjaya played it well last night. His stage antics to a known song, You Really Got Me, will continue to get him votes, and he will likely be safe another week.
Haley Scarnato. Tell Him. She started out weak. She had a pretty voice, but not a great, strong voice. She presented herself in a way that just didn't work. It came across negatively. Maybe because she just doesn't seem to have a lot of stage presence.
What are your thoughts on the show and the performances? Feel free to disagree.
OTHER THOUGHTS
One more thing... do you want Manny Ramirez's Grill? You can bid on it... on ebay! And get a signed baseball!
OK, I seriously must sleep! Have a great day!
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