Thursday,
September 10, 2009
NFL “Expert”
Picks – 2009 (Week 1)
The NFL season starts tonight
with one game. That means one thing… it is time to start up this year’s version
of the NFL “Expert” Picks at SethSpeaks.net. There are a few changes to the panel
this year. A few new bloggers and media types join the panel. There are also
several other Twins minor leaguers who have joined this panel. That is
exciting, especially since all of the players from last year returned. With the
promotion of Jeff Manship
to the big leagues, we now have two Minnesota Twins players making picks each
week. The goal will be for us to get these posted in time for you to review
them before you need to turn in your office pool picks. So, with a game
tonight, here are our picks for this week. If there are just games on Sunday
and Monday, I will attempt to post them by Friday morning.
The format will be a little
bit different in an attempt to try to make it a little more concise. We will
try it out, but if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. We are now
over 30 panelists, so it will be a bit of work. I will try to update the
Standings in a timely manner each week.
If you have any questions or
comments, please e-mail me or leave some Comments
here. If you want, post your picks.
The Panel
Before
getting to the picks, I would like to introduce this year's panel:
Seth Stohs – It’s me… you can find me here, or at
TalkinTwinsBB.wordpress.com. I also write a weekly blog for the Star
Tribune Your Voices blog. Monday nights, you can hear the SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota
Twins podcast at 9:00 central time. Last fall, I wrote the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook –
2009 (Which is now on sale!), and in July, I joined the TwinsCentric group and helped write the TwinsCentric July Trade Deadline Primer.
Kevin Slowey – Kevin is back for
his fifth year on the panel.The loyal Steelers
follower, Slowey will not only make the picks each
week, but he will tell us how many points the Steelers will win by! Slowey had a very solid first half with the Twins, but
wrist problems cost Slowey the second half of this
season. He had wrist surgery and looks to come back in 2010 where he left off.
Jeff Manship – Jeff is in his third
year on this panel. He was the Twins 14th round draft pick in 2006
out of Notre Dame. He started the 2009 season back in New Britain. He was
promoted to Rochester at the midpoint of the season. He pitched very well with
the Red Wings and when there was a need with the Twins, Manship
was promoted to the big league club. He was recently moved into the starting
rotation and done well.
Kyle Waldrop – Kyle won this league championship three seasons ago. He has
also had the best record of Twins players the past two years as well. After
missing the 2008 season, Kyle came back with a very strong 2009 season. He
pitched in the Ft. Myers bullpen for the first half of the season. He was
promoted to New Britain where he was even better. In 31 games (and 55.2
innings), he had a 1.46 ERA.
Joe Benson – Joe is also in his third season on the NFL “Expert” Picks
panel. The Twins 2006 2nd round pick spent two years in Beloit. This
year, he moved up to Ft. Myers and re-established himself as a top prospect.
Steve Singleton – Steve is now in his second season on the panel. He got off to
a slow start in his return to Ft. Myers. He received a promotion to New Britain
and he took off from there with the bat. He also got playing time at his
preferred position, SS. Recently, he earned a spot in
the Arizona Fall League.
Alex Burnett – Alex joins the panel for the first time. The Twins 12th
round pick in 2005 out of his California high school, Burnett would be his
team’s top starting pitcher at each level. So it was a surprise when he was
sent back to Ft. Myers this April and put into the bullpen. That decision
proved to be a wise one as he dominated the Florida State League. He earned a
promotion to AA New Britain where he was even better (1.79 ERA in AA, 1.99 ERA
in FM).
Matt Fox – Matt was a supplemental first round pick of the Twins in 2004
out of Central Florida. He had surgery in 2005, and since then he has gradually
regained arm strength as he has moved up one level each year. This year, he was
arguably the best pitcher at AA New Britain. He went 9-9 with a 3.58 ERA in
over 150 innings pitched. His numbers would be even better without a rough
July. He should move up to Rochester in 2010, and we may see him with the Twins
next year as well. This is the first year on this panel.
Mike McCardell
– Mike was the Twins 6th round pick in 2007 out of Kutztown
University. He has been very good ever since. He began this season with Ft. Myers
where he made 17 starts. He was promoted to New Britain where, after a rough
first start, he has been one of their better pitchers. This is his first year
on the panel.
David Bromberg – Coming off of a season in which he was named the Florida
State League’s Pitcher of the Year, Bromberg joins this panel for the first
time this year. In 2008, he led all Minor League Baseball in strikeouts. He was
the Twins 32nd round pick in 2005 but went to Junior College before
signing as a Draft and Follow in 2006. Bromberg is arguably the Twins best
pitching prospect.
Dan Osterbrock – Osterbrock was the Twins 7th
round pick in 2008 out of the University of Cincinnati. He was named the
Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year in 2008. He moved up to Beloit this
year. He ended this season strong, being named the Midwest League Pitcher of
the Week after giving up just two runs in 13 innings over two starts. This is
his first year on this panel.
Steve Blevins – Blevins is also on the panel for the first time. The Snappers’
reliever was the Twins 21st round pick in 2008 out of Marshall. This
year, he went 3-5 with a 3.52 ERA. Opponents hit just .262 off of his this
season. He showed improvement from the first half to the second half of the
season and hopes to build on that for 2010.
Shooter Hunt – Shooter Hunt was the Twins supplemental first round pick in
2008. He was drafted out of Tulane, and is a huge football fan. This is his
first year on the NFL “Expert” Picks panel.
Kyle Gibson – Kyle was the Twins 1st round pick just this June,
22nd overall, out of the University of Missouri. He fell to the
Twins due to a fracture in his forearm that has since healed. He signed shortly
before the August 17th deadline and has reported to Ft. Myers. He
will officially join the Twins in Instructional Leagues and make his debut next
spring. Gibson is on the panel for the first time.
Dan Slowey –Dan is the man behind a very interesting website called Blogonoscopy. This is his second year in the panel.
John Bonnes – John has been involved in the world of Twins blogging longer
than anyone else. He is The Twins Geek,.
He is also one of the TwinsCentric group.
Stick & Ball Guy – SBG is the creator of The
World’s Greatest Online Magazine, one of the top blogs you’ll find
on the Twins, but he also is active in discussions surrounding the
Timberwolves, Vikings and much, much more.
Nick Nelson – Nick is another long-time Twins blogger who has been part of
this panel for a few years now. He is the lasting author of the Nick’s
Twins blog. He is also a writer in the TwinsCentric
bunch.
Josh Johnson – Josh has been writing at Josh’s Thoughts, a very good Twins blog. Josh recently
headed back to college, so hopefully that homework stuff doesn’t get in his way
too much! He is on the panel for the third year.
Parker Hageman –Parker is the author of the excellent Over the Baggy blog, a very thought-provoking Twins blog.
Parker is another member of the TwinsCentric group.
This is his second year on this panel.
Andrew Kneeland
–Andrew is in his second year on the panel. He writes about the Twins blog
where you can get your Twins Fix. He also writes at times
for The Bleacher Report.
Travis Aune – Travis writes the
Twins blog Travis Talks. He
focuses a lot on the minor league system. He has been a frequent guest on the SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota
Twins Podcast. This will be his first year on the panel.
John Meyer – John is another very busy individual. He’s got new businesses
in the works to go with the great job he does as the Twins Most Valuable Blogger. This is his
first year on the panel.
Brian Pietrzak
– Brian is on the panel for the first time this year. He writes the Minnesota Twins
page for Examiner.com.
LaVelle E. Neal III – LaVelle has been on this panel for
several years now. He is a Twins beat writer for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune
which includes the blog Twins Insider. He also frequently
appears on KFAN
radio. He’s always a strong competitor in this competition.
Howard Sinker – Howard provides Twins fans with A Fan’s View from Section 220. The former Twins beat writer
(1982-1987) is still working at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Phil Mackey – P-Mac is a regular contributor to many of the shows on KFAN. He is the voice behind Twins Weekly. His personal blog can be
found at www.PhilMackey.com. He is also
heavily involved in
MNPokerMag.com. He is one of the busiest sports media types in
the Twin Cities, and this is his first year on the panel.
Darren “Doogie” Wolfson – Speaking of busy Twin Cities media
types, Doogie can be found everywhere. He has a Star
Tribune Your Voices blog, writes for gopherhole.com
and works for cbssports.com… among other things. His radio background has
allowed him to be a guest on several local radio shows. He is joining the panel
for the first time too.
Jonathan Mayo – Jonathan has been on the panel three other years. He did take
a year off to write a book, Facing Clemens. He is a senior
writer for MLB.com and MiLB.com where he blogs on the
Minors and the Draft.
Jack Michaels – Jack competes in this panel for the second straight year. He
is the host of The Jack Michaels Show on ESPN
710 The Fan in Bismarck, ND, and has been
gracious enough to let me be on his show from time to time. He was the original
radio play-by-play guy of the Fargo-Moorhead
Redhawks where he teamed with former Dodgers
great Maury Wills.
Cory Hepola – Cory is currently a
sports anchor for WROC-TV in Rochester, New York. You can find much more about
him on his personal blog that includes postings and videos and much
more.
Vic Quick – Vic has been on this panel for a long time. He is currently a
sports reporter/anchor for KOTA-TV in Rapid City, South
Dakota, and proclaims himself the biggest Texas Rangers fan in South Dakota.
The Dallas native is also likely the biggest Cowboys fan in the state too! My
former college roommate definitely knows his football, at least anything about Emmitt Smith or Troy Aikman, well, and the Concordia Cobbers!
Roger Dehring – Roger is one of the
more knowledgeable people you can meet when it comes to the Twins minor league
system. He writes a Weekly Minor League Report for the
Twinkie
Town website.
Blake Meyer – Blake is the originator of an incredible Twins website, Twins
Cards. If you go there, you can see Twins baseball cards back to the
team’s inception. You can find autographs and memorabilia and much more. Blake
provides us an international flavor to the panel!
Michael Brasel – Long time friend (closer to 30 years than either of us want
to admit), Mike was listed among the best players I have played ball with. He was one of the
original panelists.
WEEK 1 Picks
Alright, here are our picks for the first week of the season:
|
|
|
Tennessee
@ Pittsburgh |
Denver
@ Cincinnati |
Philadelphia
@ Carolina |
Dallas
@ Tampa Bay |
Kansas
City @ Baltimore |
Detroit
@ New Orleans |
NY
Jets @ Houston |
Minnesota
@ Cleveland |
Miami
@ Atlanta |
Jacksonville
@ Indianapolis |
St. Louis
@ Seattle |
Washington
@ NY Giants |
San
Francisco @ Arizona |
Chicago
@ Green Bay |
Buffalo
@ New England |
San
Diego @ Oakland |
|
Seth Stohs |
SethSpeaks.net |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Dan Slowey |
Blogonoscopy |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Kevin Slowey |
Twins SP |
Steelers
by 16 |
Broncos |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Bills |
Chargers |
|
Jeff Manship |
Twins SP |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Kyle Waldrop |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Steve Singleton |
Twins IF Prospect |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Panthers |
Buccs |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
49ers |
Packers |
Patriots |
Raiders |
|
Alex Burnett |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Rams |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers! |
|
Matt Fox |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Dolphins |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Redskins |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Michael McCardell |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Joe Benson |
Twins OF Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Rams |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
|
|
|
David Bromberg |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dan Osterbrock |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Dolphins |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Steve Blevins |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Shooter Hunt |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Kyle Gibson |
Twins Pitching Prospect |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
LaVelle E.
Neal |
Twins Insider |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Howard Sinker |
A Fan's View |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Rams |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Jonathan Mayo |
MiLB.com |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Phil Mackey |
PhilMackey.com |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
49ers |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Doogie Wolfson |
GopherHole.com |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Dolphins |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
John Bonnes |
TwinsGeek.com |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Nick Nelson |
Nick's Twins Blog |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Parker Hageman |
Over the Baggy |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
49ers |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Josh Johnson |
Josh's Thoughts |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Travis Aune |
Travis Twins Talk |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
SBG |
Stick & Ball Guy |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
John Meyer |
Twins MVB |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Dolphins |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Brian Pietrzak |
Examiner.com Twins |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Andrew Kneeland |
Twins Fix |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Blake Meyer |
Twins Cards |
Steelers |
Broncos |
Eagles |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Dolphins |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Bears |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Roger Dehring |
Twinkie Town |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Jets |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Jack Michaels |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
|
Vic Quick |
KOTA-TV |
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
Cory Hepola |
WROC-TV |
Steelers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Michael Brasel |
|
Steelers |
Bengals |
Panthers |
Cowboys |
Ravens |
Saints |
Texans |
Vikings |
Falcons |
Colts |
Seahawks |
Giants |
Cardinals |
Packers |
Patriots |
Chargers |
|
SUMMARY |
|
Steelers
34-0 |
Bengals
24-9 |
Eagles
22-11 |
Cowboys
32-1 |
Ravens
33-0 |
Saints
33-0 |
Texans
24-9 |
Vikings
33-0 |
Falcons
28-5 |
Colts
33-0 |
Seahawks
30-3 |
Giants
32-1 |
Cardinals
30-3 |
Packers
24-9 |
Patriots
31-1 |
Chargers
31-1 |
.