Monday, October 15, 2007
Monday Morning Notebook
Good morning everyone! Well, more weird internet connectivity issues over the weekend, specifically yesterday and last night, mean that I was unable to write anything last night. So, real quickly, I wanted to jot down just a couple of thoughts.
First, I am happy to say that I am again a fan of the Vikings. For the first time since Randy Moss left, I can admit to watching Vikings games. Seriously, the team now has someone worth watching, and of course, that man is Adrian Peterson. It is amazing how much more enjoyable it is to watch a team when you know that any time he touches the ball, something special could happen. Yesterday was certainly just that. 224 yards, three touchdowns, and don’t forget the long return he had that led to Ryan Longwell’s game-winning field goal. It is like watching Ladanian Tomlinson, I’m sure. It is like back when Daunte Culpepper would drop back and air one out in Moss’s direction. Big plays are what make the game worth watching.
Now, that’s not to say that the other things are not important. Chester Taylor was almost an afterthought and yet he ran for 83 yards and had some real tough runs. He deserves mention as well. The offensive line deserves a ton of credit for getting him 4, 6, 9, 12 yards a pop. The difference in the two runners is just that Taylor can break a 12-15 yarder… with the same hole, Peterson can take it the distance.
And really, I thought Tavaris Jackson did a nice job. He hit Troy Williamson for the long catch, but he also threw some nice slants that were dropped by a couple of receivers. Nothing overly exciting in his line, but a solid performance. That was a nice win, but more importantly, it was a game that was exciting to watch and makes me, and likely others, excited to watch them play again next week.
The Twins – Well, not a lot going on right now. The moves that they have made so far were all easy decision moves. They (the execs and decision-makers, now led by Bill Smith) will be meeting next week in Florida to discuss anything and everything Twins, and determine their best path to take. The decisions I am most interested in relate to Matt Macri (will he be added) and then who else will come off of the roster. I have my thoughts, of course, on who should be removed from the 40 man roster. I think Chris Basak, Carmen Cali, Errol Simonitsch and a couple of others should be taken off the list because there are several players that I think they need to protect. But what will they do? We will find out.
For more on these types of topics, 2008 Twins planning, be sure to check out both Taylor’s Twins Talk and Josh’s Thoughts today for some of their thoughts on what they would do. It really is interesting to read.
One final topic for today before calling it good, The Mitchell investigative announced that it would be releasing its report sometime after the World Series, in November or December. My first thought was that this is a non-story. I mean, we’ve been hearing that we will hear the results “soon” for awhile now. However, the more I think about it, the more that this becomes a big topic.
The main thing I am concerned about, and you’ve probably heard this elsewhere, is if the report will leak the names of those that failed tests in 2003. Those tests were agreed to by the Players with the understanding that the results would be used to show what the situation was at that time. They agreed because the results were to be kept confidential. Any breech in that confidentiality will mean devastating things to major league baseball. If those names come out, I fully expect major issues coming out of the Players Association, and I would not blame them. If something is not worked out, I would not at all be surprised if there is a Player’s Strike going into the 2008 season for this.
I am as curious as everyone else. I want to hear all the names. I want to know. But at the same time, the 2003 testing was something that the Players Association agreed to only because of the confidentiality factor. Had that not been given, then baseball would not have had that testing and nothing would have been done. Baseball has come a long way in the fight against Performance Enhancing Drugs, and all that could be lost if the names are leaked.
Anyway, the Colorado Rockies won again last night for the 648th time in their last 649 games to grab a 3-0 lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their run is truly incredible and that series could be done tonight. I actually agree with Eric Byrnes’s comments about luck and getting all the breaks. In fact, I say that every year about the playoffs. But as many point out to me, without the playoffs, there is no purpose to the season and only one team would win. But luck, the breaks, timing and all those things are a factor in the playoffs. Have the Rockies been lucky? Certainly. Have they deserved to win? Of course.
Tonight, the Red Sox will play in Cleveland in Game 3 of the ALCS. Of course I want the Indians to win, but I also want to see a good game. Hopefully Jake Westbrook can be solid for six innings. That is really the key for them.
Any other thoughts on the world of baseball? Maybe on the Vikings? Did you know that the Minnesota Wild are the only remaining undefeated team in the NHL? Did you see the Gophers football team lost in overtime to Northwestern?
What else would you like to talk about. Please send me an e-mail if there are topics you would like to see me cover more here, and as always, please feel free to leave Comments below.
Have a great day!