This post should be prefaced by Tyler Fraser aka T Fresh by saying having any sports is better than having none. I'm/He is looking at you Iowa. The Arena Football League and the NBA D-League does not count.
What Tyler Fraser Learned From Living in Iowa:
There is a difference between professional sports and major league sports. While both may be paid for it, a professional AFL player may be paid $200 a game, which apparently makes him a professional. However, a NFL player will make a lot more than that, makes them a Major League Player. So there is your difference. Pro < Major League.
Now onto the State of the State of Minnesota (Sports).
NFL - Vikings
We are in a rebuilding year whether the coaches will admit it or not. Donovan McNabb is simply a stop gap player to help Christian Ponder learn the NFL system. While I still think the Vikes will be around .500 this year, I am not expecting big things. Our secondary is questionable as well as the offensive line. Antoine Winfield is not getting any younger and can’t cover everyone. Our next 2 best CB’s are Cedric Griffin who is coming off of 2 ACL surgeries and Chris Cook who not only was injured physically last year with his meniscus tears but I really think that him not playing at 100% and getting torched on the field and subsequently benched messed him up mentally too. Cutting McKinnie had to be done; you cannot show up to camp weighing 400 lbs and expect it to be cool. Go work on your record label and your ole defense. Hutch needs to get back to his old self and stay healthy and the same with Anthony Herrera. I don’t know who our center is and I am not looking it up. Phil Loadholt had a sophomore slump year last year but is looking like he is in great shape and is ready to return to his old form. Our new LT protected Peyton and that’s good enough for me. AP is hopefully ready for another great year but the question remains will the best running back in the NFL be able to carry this team? And who will Donovan throw the ball to? After Percy Harvin the options get pretty limited. Berrian had a nice grab in the Dallas game for 6, but the safety really missed and couldn’t tip it away. Michael Jenkins best quality is his run blocking ability down the field. Aromashadu (Sp?) will be lucky to get past the 5th WR spot on the chart. As far as the state of the Vikings, I will give them a B-, and that is based on the idea that Christian Ponder will eventually take over and be a successful NFL QB.
MLB - Twins
It’s over Johnny. The Twins have given up this year and it's pretty obvious by putting both Thome and Kubel on waivers. The bullpen feels the hurt of losing Matty Guerrier, Big Jon Rauch and (unfortunately) Jesse Crain. Yes, Joe Nathan may have returned to his old form and Glen Perkins is quite the set-up man, but who else do the Twins really have in the 'Pen? The bullpen is one of the strengths that the Twins always had, and now in the upcoming offseason we need to work to make it as strong as it once was.
Our rotation isn’t in much better shape. Frankie Liriano is a mess right now and he is supposed to be our "ace." Hot Carl Pavano has had an extremely disappointing year and I'm wondering if the Twins overpaid for his talents. The rest of the rotation: Blackburn/Baker/Duensing/Slowey is such a joke I can't even comment on it. The Twins lack the ace that we had in Johan Santana and/or Brad Radke and it shows. I wouldn't feel confident in sending any starter out if I had to win a game. Along with the bullpen, the starting rotation is a priority in fixing the team and making us competitive in the years to come.
As far as the position players:
Catcher:
Joe Mauer needs to nut up at catcher or switch positions. I understand that he will never be the power hitter who crushes 30+ homers a year but for all the money we pay Joe he needs to at least drive in some runs in big situations and not weakly ground out to 2nd base. I am done being a Mauer apologist and if he cannot produce then it is time to look to move him. Oh and Drew Butera is not a viable back up for Mauer, since Butera can barely bat above the Mendoza Line.
1st Base:
I am probably going to get ravaged for this, but I say trade Justin Morneau and let Joe Mauer take over 1st base full time. He is obviously athletic enough to play anywhere on the field, and really first is the best place to put him since his fragile body can't handle being behind the plate full time. I love Justin Morneau but at this point he is expendable and if the Twins can trade him for some pitching I don't see why that is not a good move.
Middle Infield:
Tolbert/Casilla/Nishioka are all garbage and they need to have a better year next year. All of them have been disappointing this year and have played way under their potential.
3rd Base:
Danny Valencia has been the unfortunate target of criticism from Gardy, but really what else can he do. He plays solid defensively and hits the ball decent. It is only his second year and I'm looking for him to be solid in years to come.
OF:
Span needs to come back strong off his concussion issues, and with Ben Revere and Cuddyer, who I hope the Twins re-sign, set up for a pretty solid OF. The Twins will probably low-ball Cuddy and he’ll end up signing with someone else who gives him a fiar deal, but if he does resign and if Span can get healthy then the OF seems pretty solid, especially with an upcoming Aaron Hicks as an OF prospect. Cuddy deserves the money since he will play any position on the field, and he will play even if he has “general soreness.” **Cough Mauer Cough**Plus hopefully we will still have Kubel too, who had a very nice season going before some injury issues.
The Twins Grade: C and falling. Make some good moves this offseason Billy.
NHL - Wild
I live in the state of hockey but I honestly have no idea where the Wild are right now. They have a new coach so we will see what happens. I know last year there were some injury problems and we had a lack of goal scorers. The Wild did go out and make some moves for some guys who can put the puck in the net. As it is with most of our favorite teams, the Wild also seem to be in a rebuilding stage and hopefully everyone can stay healthy and the Wild will bring back pride to the state of hockey.
The Wild’s Grade: C-. Unproven first year coach and a new look team.
NBA - T'Wolves
IF there is an NBA season, the Wolves have me excited for their season. Finally, Ricky Rubio has come to Minnesota and our first round draft pick Derrick Williams should make for a nice little front court with K Love and B Easy (that’s assuming B Easy stays out of trouble). Rambis and his triangle offense are gone, and hopefully Kahnsie gets a new guy in here who lets these guys do what they do best.
K Love: rebound and be scrappy.
D Will: dunk on everyone and be athletic.
Ricky Rubio: run fast and pass the ball and not be like anybody else.
B Easy: ummm….
Wes Johnson: get better in your 2nd year.
Darko: stand around and look confused.
Wolves grade: C+, depends on who we bring in and how our talent develops. The Grade could also be n/a since there probably won’t be a season.
WNBA - Lynx
Of course the one Minnesota sports team that is a legit championship contender would be our favorite ladies the Lynx of the WNBA! Maya Moore is crazy good and she is killing it in her rookie year. Let’s just say I may be attending a game at the old Target Center when the playoffs come around. I’m not going to pretend I know a lot about the Lynx because I don’t. I know Maya Moore is good and Lindsey Whalen is our PG.
Lynx Grade: A, and your WNBA CHAMPIONS 2011!!!
Gophers:
Football:
Well, when we all wanted Glen Mason gone when I was a freshman, a guy named Timmy Brewster rolled in the Minneapolis. Oh, how wrong we were. I would like to apologize to Mr. Mason for all the “fire Mason” chants I joined in while in the Dome. I never knew how good we had it until Basement Brew started selling empty promises while continuously proving he couldn’t coach his way out of a paper bag. But now, all has changed. Jerry Kill has arrived and by golly, he seems like an actual football coach! No nonsense BS promises about the Rose Bowl and Pasadena, just a disciplined man who has found success in every place he has coached. While this may not be the year for the Golden Gophers, hang tight, because Coach Kill has us pointed in the right direction, and with his recruiting ability and proven track record, look out for the University of Minnesota football program in a few years.
Gopher Football Grade: B, moving on up though, and giving it time.
Basketball:
After an extremely unfortunate season, littered with players leaving and devastating injuries, Tubby is still here. As long as he keeps doing what he’s doing and recruiting well and making sure we have a PG, the Gophers will eventually get deep into the tournament. We have some good freshman coming in this year to help the backcourt and with the frontcourt of Mbakwe and RSIII, we should look to dominate down low again. Also Maurice Walker who got hurt early in the non-conference schedule should look to come back strong for his sophomore year. Similar to the football program, we are moving in the right direction; maybe Tubby can get another ring.
Gopher Basketball Grade: A-, good recruiting and solid players returning along with a great coach in Tubby Smith.
There are basically 2 themes to The State of the State of Minnesota Sports:
1. Rebuilding
2. Rebuilt and moving forward
So we have proven that we can get on the right track, but now all of our favorite teams need to take the next step and get to the next level, to show all Minnesotans that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that Minnesota Sports aren’t so bad after all.
Thanks for reading.
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