06.14.2010: Walk-Off!

First off, the video footage I promised is coming. We have had some technical problems...

Anyway...

What a win for the Lunkers! It was great watching the team celebrate a walk-off victory in what was the best game of baseball this season. Scoreless heading into the bottom of the tenth, Vince Bruno, the newest Lunker, who was 0-for-4 throughout the day, came through big with a walk-off single! Kyle Teague continued to mow down Northwoods League hitters, allowing three hits through seven scoreless innings, striking out nine. Check out some of the highlights...



The roster continues to fill out today as Steve Wickens will likely make his 2010 debut with the Lunkers, one of last year's returners. Also scheduled to join the team today are two Calfornia boys: Chadd Krist, a 1st Team All-Pac 10 catcher, and Tommy Reyes, an infielder who has the potential to be one of the best players in the league.

Anyway, I noticed another Minnesota thing...the "ag" sound becomes "eg." You don't get a paper bag, you get a paper "beg." I love it, it's awesome. I point it out whenever one of my friends says it, and it is probably just as, if not more annoying than when someone in California points out every time I say y'all. I will defend y'all to my grave...It's just a much more efficient way of saying you all!

There are two guys on Mankato from USC so it was great getting to see them. They both played great Saturday night. Alex Glenn hit a two-run homer and Logan Odom went 2.2 scoreless and got the save. Yesterday, Alex made a game saving throw from center field, nailing Adam Koglin at the plate. Logan was thrown out on the mound again and pitched two innings before giving up the game-winning single, but it's tough to call an outing in which a pitcher gives up a single run a poor performance. Last night, after yesterday's game, I picked them up from their hotel and we went out to dinner and got to spend time. It is great getting to see guys you know around the league.

Everyone is excited for tomorrow's off-day. A day-off would be nice. I still plan on doing work, just not in the office.

Most of the day, when the players are not getting their early work in, everyone is in the clubhouse watching either the college baseball Super Regionals or the World Cup. Coach Lev hates soccer and makes fun of us every time we watch the World Cup...he's just mad he has red hair ;-).

Hot Sports Opinion of the Day: We continue our "Young Core" debate, analyzing the AL Central today.

Just a refresher on criteria: I am only analyzing players 27 and younger on each team's 40-man roster based predominantly on their MLB production and what it might project to...

Winners
AL East: Tampa Bay
AL Central: ?
AL West:

NL East:
NL Central:
NL West:

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer barely fits in this discussion at 27 and I know this won't be a popular opinion, but I am not going to hold him in as high regard for a long-term discussion as most people in Minnesota will. Is he the best catcher in baseball? Yes. Are he and Albert Pujols the two best hitters? Yes. Does he appear to be an awesome human being/role model? Yes (not that that matters, but in Minnesota, if you in anyway criticize Mauer, people take it personally). But, for a long-term discussion, you have to consider his health, which, while not a major issue, is certainly not impeccable. Part of his value is as a catcher...I don't see him being a catcher and playing 140 games over the next ten years. I see his career lasting for that long, but if it remains as solely a catcher, I don't see him averaging 140 games over that time. Back and knee issues aren't the best equation for a catcher.

Denard Span is pretty darn good--a much better version of what they hoped Carlos Gomez would be--and only getting better. It looks as if Liriano is back, as well. Between those two, plus Mauer, you got a pretty solid package to build a team around. Other than that, the supporting cast is not nearly as special.

J.J. Hardy has not filled his potential, though he has come much closer than Delmon Young, who, at 24, still has time to figure it out. Jose Mijares is good and has room to grow, but a reliever at the forefront of a youth package needs to be absolutely dominant to really sweeten the deal, and while Mijares is pretty good, he is not dominant. And then there is Kevin Slowey...He is a pretty good pitcher--someone I'd love to have. However, people always give him credit for being good despite not having dominant stuff and that is all great, but at the end of the day, you don't get more points for not being as talented as the other guys. He is good and he is young and I don't foresee arm issues, but he doesn't wow me.

Deolis Guerra and Anthony Swarzak get minor consideration, despite no MLB experience.

Youth Leader: Is it a question? Joe Mauer.

Detroit: When I looked at their roster, I forgot how young their current impact players are. Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, and Miguel Cabrera are all 27. With Verlander, you have your ace for the next seven years. He is the opposite of a max-effort guy who throws harder as the game progresses. Cabrera seems to be more committed to his health and if that can stick, he will hit until he is forty. A defensive liability? Sure. But if there is room for Adam Dunn in the National League, you are damn right there is room for a .330/35/100 guy in your lineup. As for Bonderman, he comes with a history of arm injuries and already 7 previous years as MLB experience. He is no Spring chicken, but certainly a decent piece with Verlander already in the mix.

And how can we forget about Austin Jackson...a future gold-glove winner (this year?), and your lead-off hitter of the future. He is only 23 and hasn't shown a ton of power in his rookie season, but neither did Joe Mauer. And while he won't ever hit 30 homers, he could develop into a 15-20 home run guys, on top of a .300 batting average and 40 steals a year.

And then there are the mysteries: Porcello and Scherzer. They both have all-world talent but have struggled this season raising some eyebrows. Porcello, at 21, is not nearly as much of a concern despite his sophomore slump. Last year he won 14 games with a sub-4.00 era as a rookie. In a perfect world for Tigers fans, I am convinced he becomes the team's ace when Verlander is ready to hand over the reigns. Scherzer, at 25, is a little more of a concern, but his 15K performance earlier in the year gave Tigers fans some hope for his future. You have to consider both of their struggles, but I am not concerned about it long term.

The only problem I foresee is signability...If the Tigers are willing to shell out the money, everything will be okay, but maintaining this core will not be easy, as everyone we have mentioned already comes with at least a year of big league experience, except for Jackson, which means most them have already passed their 6-year control stage.

Youth Leader: I love Cabrera, I love Verlander, but Austin Jackson is going to be special. I put the "C" on his jersey.

Chicago White Sox: They have some young talent that don't meet the criteria for the discussion (read: not on 40-man) but outside of that, their youth is pretty dry. Dayan Viciedo and Tyler Flowers have ton of potential but not big league experience, so their consideration is minimal. Gavin Floyd is good, but at 27, he doesn't make me want to go all-in. Same with Carlos Quentin. They are both nice pieces, but not people I want on my Mt. Rushmore of Youth.

The only prime piece? John Danks. The 25 year-old lefty has proven he belongs in the bigs and is only getting better. Ignore his W-L records--it's not his fault--but notice that he is poised for his 3rd straight season with a sub-4.00 ERA. And he isn't sneaking in there with 3.98 and 3.93--he had 3.32 in 08, 3.77 in 09, and has 3.27 so far in 10.

Not really worth any more discussion...don't think Chicago is going to advance to the next round.

Youth Leader: John Danks

Kansas City Royals: They are a better version of the White Sox, as far as this discussion goes. They have more young talent in their system than their 40-man projects, but their 40-man is pretty dry. Unfortunately, you have to consider that with the team's longevity of ineptitude, players won't want to stay. Is Zack Greinke one of the best pitchers in baseball? Without a doubt. But I bet he sees his 2-7 record with a 3.94 ERA and doesn't think: "Only if I was in New York..." Which he will be soon.

Soria, at 27, is a nice piece. Luke Hochevar has never really emerged as a star. For the time being, Alex Gordon has shown he is nothing more than a AAAA player--someone that tears up AAA to project MLB readiness, but can never figure it out at the MLB level.

Their biggest asset? Aaron Crow. And he hasn't played so I can't even really consider him, but they will have the opportunity to keep him for 6 years once he comes up.

Youth Leader: Greinke...but not for much longer.

Cleveland Indians: They have a special core of players, though most of them are unproven. However, it is not the Alex Gordon unproven where they have had ample opportunity to prove themselves only to let us down...they just haven't had opportunity. The Matt LaPorta experience was not as much of a hit as they had hoped in take 1, but he will be back. Between LaPorta, Trevor Crowe, Michael Brantley, and Carlos Santana, Cleveland might have the best quarter of youth hitters in baseball. But, as the criteria states, I am basing this mainly on their MLB production. What have they showed? Collectively, they can cut it at this level, even LaPorta, who, statistically has hit some road bumps. Unfortunately, I can't just all of a sudden factor in how I really feel: they all will be stars, especially Santana, a switch hitting catcher.

They also have a quartet of arms with potential: Carmona, Masterson, Huff, and Laffey. Carmona appears to be back. Masterson's season is turning around. Huff and Laffey...ehh, not so much. I am not sold that the latter two of the four will develop to be number one or number two rotation guys. If Fausto is my number two, I'm fine with that. And I think Masterson will develop into a number two as well. None of them are aces, though.

And don't forget Shin Soo-Choo...He is 27 and offers the most immediate production.

Unfortunately, Cleveland is hampered by a lot of question marks. The potential is there, but will it come to fruition?

Youth Leader: Carlos Santana. He will hit for the next 15 years.

And the Winner Is...Detroit. How can you turn your back on their core of established players. They are not a small market team and have the ability to sign enough of their core to make it enticing. Keep in mind, no team with the quantity of established core players like Detroit can sign them all...At this point, it's a matter of picking and choosing the right ones. They have two question marks with Scherzer and Porcello, but they have proven they can be successful for an entire season before, and they are protected by an established star like Verlander, and an established number two like Bonderman.

2. Minnesota: If Guerra and Swarzak meet their expectations, maybe this list changes. They are not far behind.
3. Cleveland: The youngest collection of guys with huge potential, but they are totally void of the established players that Detroit and Minnesota have.
4. Kansas City: Not bad, not great.
5. Chicago White Sox: As dry as a desert.


Sports Pick of the Day: Italy over Paraguay in WC action kicking off in a few hours

The two soccer wins I predicted that ended up as ties go down as losses for me...bummer...


Record: 7-5
Streak: L2