Q&A with Dan Osterbrook: Twins Pitching Prospect

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

Good morning everyone! Thank you very much for again stopping by SethSpeaks.net. I hope you all have had a great 2008, and that 2009 brings you much more positive times.

 

In case you missed it yesterday, there is plenty of new SethSpeaks information. I did a Live Chat yesterday afternoon for about 100 minutes. I was able to answer a lot of questions, and if you want to read the entire chat, click here. Then last night, we had another SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins podcast. By clicking here, you can listen to the whole show. Guests included Twins pitching prospects Kyle Waldrop, Jeff Manship and Twins blogger Parker Hageman of Over the Baggy.

 

And with that at your finger tips, I am excited to announce today’s Q&A with another Twins pitching prospect, lefty Dan Osterbrook. The Twins drafted him out of the University of Cincinnati in the 7^th round. He went to Elizabethton and pitched so well that he was named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year. He is a control artist who simply knows how to pitch. He is another successful college pitcher in the Twins system, and it will be fun to watch how he develops as he moves up through the organization. I thought it would be fun to find out more about him, and what his philosophies are on pitching. I think he did a great job responding, and hope you will enjoy it!

 

To check out the career stats of Dan Osterbrook, click here. I think you will enjoy Dan’s responses. (Click here to see previous Q&As)

 

Let the Questions Begin!

SethSpeaks: Growing up in Cincinnati, do I even need to ask who your favorite team was. Who were some of your favorite players to follow?

 

Dan Osterbrook: The Cincinnati Reds have always been my favorite team ever since I began following major league baseball back in 1994. My family had a greenhouse business and some of my fondest memories as a kid were picking tomatoes with my grandpa and listening to the Reds on the radio when they made it to the playoffs in 1995. I would have to say that Bret Boone was my favorite player at that time.

 

SethSpeaks: Tell us a little about your high school career. Did you play other positions besides pitching?

 

Dan Osterbrook: I played my high school ball at Colerain High School. We were more of a football school so baseball was overlooked. I really doubt that too many of my classmates know I was drafted. We were 7-17 my senior year and I actually had a losing record as a pitcher (4-5). When I wasn’t pitching I played centerfield and some first base.

 

SethSpeaks: Did you participate in other activities in high school?

 

Dan Osterbrook: I never seriously played any other sports. I enjoy playing basketball but was never that good at it so I just played rec basketball with my friends and I would scrimmage the high school girls basketball team to help them out.

 

SethSpeaks: You stayed home and went to the University of Cincinnati. Were you heavily recruited, or was that an easy choice for you?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Going to the University of Cincinnati was an easy decision for me because I’ve always been a huge fan of the Bearcats. My dream as a kid was to play basketball at UC for Bob Huggins but unfortunately I wasn’t that good and I stopped growing. I was only recruited by colleges around the Ohio area but even if bigger schools had recruited me I still would’ve stayed home and gone to UC. A few years back I got the school’s logo tattooed on my back, so I’m a Bearcat for life.

 

S ethSpeaks:  You went 18-3 your final two seasons as a Bearcat. Those must have been some pretty solid teams playing behind you. Tell us about those seasons.

 

Dan Osterbrook: These past few years playing for the University of Cincinnati have been the greatest baseball days of my life so far. I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by great coaches and teammates. This past year we set a school record for most wins in a season and made it to the conference championship game. Even though we were one win away from making it to the national tournament we had a very successful year and I have many great memories.

 

SethSpeaks: You had good control your first two seasons in college, but during your junior season, you had 10 walks and 74 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched. Did something click mechanically or mentally that made finding that kind of control achievable?

 

Dan Osterbrook: I never really changed anything through my college career. My coaches Brian Cleary and Chris Reilly always preached that teams, no matter how good they are, are not going to hit their way into a lot of runs. Teams score their runs when pitchers give up too many walks. They would tell me that if I threw strikes and the defense did their part then I would have success. As a team we were second in the nation in fewest walks allowed and won 39 games so they were right.

 

SethSpeaks: What was your college major, and do you intend to continue your education?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Since I grew up around tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce at my family’s greenhouse business I decided I wanted to follow in my grandpa’s footsteps so I majored in horticulture in hopes to one day continue the business. Unfortunately due to rising costs in heating and decreasing demand of produce we went out of business. So right now I’m not sure if I should continue with horticulture or look for a different career path.

 

SethSpeaks: The Twins drafted you in the 7th round in June. Had you been talking to the Twins and their scouts, or were other teams talking to you a lot?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Throughout my junior year I was talking to a lot of teams but Jeremy Booth, the Twins’ scout that covered the Cincinnati area, seemed to show the most interest. As draft day neared I sat down and had lunch with Jeremy and that’s when it became evident to me that there was a strong possibility that the Twins might draft me.

 

SethSpeaks: What was the draft like for you, knowing you would be drafted sometime? Where were you expecting to be selected?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Like I said before, we had a lot of success this past year at Cincinnati so my focus wasn’t on the draft. The only thing I was concerned about was winning a Big East Championship but I did hear from a few scouts that I might get drafted in rounds 6-10 so when I went in the 7th round it didn’t come as a surprise.

 

SethSpeaks: You reported to Elizabethton and pitched incredibly. You were named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year. Can you describe the on-field adjustment between Division I baseball and the Appalachian League?

 

Dan Osterbrook: After my second or third start In Elizabethton I learned that rookie ball was a lot different than college. It seemed as though the young hitters of rookie ball were trying to live up to their reputations as being power hitters or line drive hitters so I was able to take advantage of their impatience at the plate by expanding the zone and getting them to chase at bad pitches. In college, the teams played more small ball which was the complete opposite style as pro ball.

 

SethSpeaks: What were the adjustments off the field to becoming a professional baseball player and that lifestyle (bus rides, pay checks, etc.)?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Moving to Elizabethton was the first time I ever moved out of Cincinnati so I was a bit nervous but more eager to get away and see what life outside of Cincinnati was like. I lived in a house with Shooter Hunt, and three Australians, James Beresford, Jarrod Eacott, and Brad Tippett. This was also the first time I’ve ever played with Hispanics but it was fun trying to learn some Spanish while playing with them. Getting my first pay check was an unusual feeling because I was being paid to do something that I’ve always loved but it’s something I can get use to.

 

SethSpeaks: 8 walked, 104 strikeouts in 75 innings. Again, those numbers are amazing at any level. Obviously “control” and not allowing free passes is a big part of your pitching style. Tell us a little more about your pitching philosophy. What are you thinking when you’re preparing for a game and then on the mound?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Well I haven’t been an overpowering pitcher since high school so in college I learned how to pitch rather than just throw the ball. So my philosophy is simple: Throw the ball over the plate while not letting them hit it too hard and then let my defense make the play. It has worked so I don’t plan on changing anytime soon. My goal every time I take the mound is to put my team in a position where they can win the game without doing too much.

 

SethSpeaks: What pitches do you throw? Which pitches are you working on, and which pitch do you consider your “out-pitch?”

 

Dan Osterbrook: I throw a fastball, change-up, slider, and curve. This past summer I started trying a new grip for my curve so I can locate it better and my out pitch is the change. I like to pitch backwards a lot. Start off with a couple change-ups then finish them with a fastball.

 

SethSpeaks: What were your goals coming into the Appy League, and how did you feel about your pro debut?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Coming into the Appy League I had no idea what the competition would be like so if I told you I was expecting to be pitcher of the year then I’d be lying. I didn’t set my goals high, I just wanted to compete and fit in. I’m very proud of my accomplishments this past year but I’m aware that one good year isn’t going to guarantee me a shot at the majors so I have to continue to work hard and stay healthy and hope for many more years like this one.

 

SethSpeaks: The E-Twins had another remarkable season, and you were instrumental in the team winning the Appy League championship. Talk a little about the talent on the team and what it was like to be a part of it?

 

Dan Osterbrook:

This E-Town team was probably the most talented team that I’ve ever played on. We did not have a single weak link on the team. Almost every guy on the team had some college experience so whenever a player got hurt we had another skilled player right behind him. This was the first ever championship I’ve ever won so this was a memorable team.

 

SethSpeaks: What have you done during the offseason? After a long year of baseball, were you able to get away from the game for awhile, and when do you start preparing for the 2009 season?

 

Dan Osterbrook: After the long year I definitely had to get away so I went back to work at Spring Grove Cemetery where I’ve been working for the past five years. It’s the second largest cemetery in the nation (733 acres) so there’s plenty of grass to cut or trees to plant or people to bury to keep my mind off baseball. I’ve already started running to get my body in shape and I’m going to start throwing again in January.

 

SethSpeaks: The Twins have had a lot of success drafting college pitchers (Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey, Glen Perkins, Matt Garza, etc.). They are known as an organization that does a great job of developing pitchers. Is that exciting for you, or a challenge, something that you look forward to?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Knowing that the Twins have a reputation of finding talented pitchers and making them great is definitely exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of pitcher I turn out to be.

 

SethSpeaks: Have you set any goals for yourself for 2009? Are there certain statistics that you look at?

 

Dan Osterbrook: I haven’t set any goals yet but I would like to stay healthy and put up the same numbers as I did this past year while trying to lower my ERA. A statistic that I think is overlooked a lot is WHIP because it takes into consideration not just how many hits you give up in an inning but also walks so I look at that one a lot and try to keep it as low as possible.

 

SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Book?

 

Dan Osterbrook: Never read one.

 

SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Movie?

 

Dan Osterbrook: The Natural.

 

SethSpeaks: Is there anything else you think that Twins fans might find interesting about you?

 

Dan Osterbrook: If baseball doesn’t work out I might consider a career being a mortician.

 

 

A thank you goes to Dan Osterbrook for taking the time to answer these questions. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to put them in the comments below, or e-mail me and I will try to get a response. Have a great New Years!

Live SethSpeaks.net Chat Today at 1:30!

I am home today, and had the idea of trying out this Live Chatting thing. So today, I am going to attempt it. We will see how it goes. So be sure to stop by a little before 1:30 central time and leave your questions. I will answer as many as I can until I run out of questions, or 90 minutes, whichever comes first. You can ask just about anything, particularly topics around baseball, the Twins, minor leagues, minor leaguers, the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook – 2009, basketball, football, TV, movies, whatever you like. We’ll see how it goes.

Click Here

Minnesota Twins Podcast Live Tonight at 8:00!

It has been a couple of weeks, but tonight, there will be a new SethSpeaks.net Weekly Twins Podcast at 8:00 (central time). You can hear the podcast Live for the first hour at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SethSpeaks.

I will verify the guest list later in the day, but the plan is that there will be two Twins minor leaguers and one of the top Twins bloggers appearing on the show. It should be a good one, so be sure to tune in, join the chat room, and ask plenty of questions.

UPDATE – Alright, here is the show schedule:

8:00 – 8:05 – Seth Introduction

8:05 – 8:22 – Kyle Waldrop – Twins Pitching Prospect

8:22 – 8:40 – Jeff Manship – Twins Pitching Prospect

8:41 – 8:59 – Parker Hageman – Over the Baggy

Q&A with Steve Blevins: Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

Good morning everyone! Before getting to our Q&A, I thought I should update everyone on the NFL “Expert” Picks now that the regular season is over… But first, I have to make note a pretty impressive prediction by one of our panelists. Kevin Slowey not only picks the Pittsburgh Steelers to win every week, but tells us by how much. He has been as close as two points off. But this week, he predicted “Steelers by 31” so when the Steelers beat the Browns 31-0, it had to be noted.

 

Congratulations to John Bonnes, aka The Twins Geek, who went 13-3 in Week 17 to win this year’s contest! He correctly picked 67.7% (172-254) of the games in 2008. Vic Quick, who had been in the lead coming into the week, tied for third with Cory Hepola, behind Bonnes and Twins minor league pitcher Kyle Waldrop, who for the third straight year was the top player in the standings. Jonathan Mayo finished out the Top 5. Thank you to all 28 panelists who participated most every week. It was fun to see who people picked. I will continue to ask this group and others for their picks on playoff games and such, but it will not be added to the contest. To see the panel and the final standings, please click here.     

 

It has been quite some time, too long, since I last posted a Q&A with a Twins minor leaguer, but I have a couple of them ready to go. Today, I am happy to post a Q&A with pitcher Steve Blevins. Blevins was the Twins 21st round pick in 2008 out of Marshall. He is quite new to the organization, so here is a Q&A to help Twins fans get to know him. Enjoy!

 

To check out the career stats of Steve Blevins, click here. I think you will enjoy Steve’s responses. (Click here to see previous Q&As)

 

Let the Questions Begin!

SethSpeaks: Growing up in Louisa, Kentucky, who was your favorite team? Who were some of your favorite players to follow? 

 

Steve Blevins: I was always a big Cincinnati Reds fan growing up. They were the closest team from my house, so I usually caught 5 or 6 games a year. I always liked watching Roger Clemens and Cal Ripken Jr.

 

SethSpeaks: Tell us a little about your high school career. Did you play other positions besides pitching?

 

Steve Blevins: My high school career was pretty cool because in Kentucky you can play varsity sports as an 8^th grader, which meant I got the chance to play with one of my brothers when he was a senior and I was in the 8^th grade. I played the infield when I wasn’t pitching, usually shortstop or second base.

 

SethSpeaks: Did you participate in other activities in high school?

 

Steve Blevins: I stayed pretty busy with baseball year round, but I also loved playing basketball and played it in high school as well.

SethSpeaks: Were you heavily recruited out of high school? You chose Cincinnati, a school just a couple of hours from home. What was the process of deciding which school to go to like?

 

Steve Blevins: Yeah I received around 10 or so offers from different colleges, which for me was plenty enough to choose from. I actually committed to NC State first, but the assistant coach who saw me pitch left before the signing period and it left the other coaches in a tough spot because they had not seen me pitch. Needless to say that fell through and I ended up at UC. When I visited UC I was very impressed with the facilities and what I thought the school had to offer and I committed that day. I was also pleased because I knew that my parents and family would still have the opportunity to come see me play as much as they wanted because it was pretty close to home. I thought they deserved that chance because of all they had done in helping me get to that point in my baseball career.

 

SethSpeaks:  You spent two years and the U of Cincinnati where you teamed with Dan Osterbrook. What can you say about the Appy League’s Pitcher of the Year?

 

Steve Blevins: Big O is a cool dude. We got to know each other pretty well at UC and we were both excited on draft day when we were both picked by the Twins. While at UC and also this fall at instructs we did quite a bit of fishing together, which was nice because it gives you a little taste of home. As a pitcher I can say I haven’t played with anyone yet that is any better. He has 3 pitches that he can throw at anytime for a strike. His change-up is especially good.

 

SethSpeaks: You transferred to Marshall University for your junior season. How difficult was that decision? How did you enjoy that season?

 

Steve Blevins: The decision to transfer was really a pretty easy one for me. Although I had a lot of friends at UC, I knew transferring to Marshall was the best thing for my future in baseball. The pitching coach at Marshall (Tim Adkins-13 year’s minor league baseball- Blue Jays, Reds, and Yankees) was the main reason I chose to transfer to where I did. I had worked with him in the past when I was younger and knew that it would be best for me to go back and learn from him some more.

 

S ethSpeaks: What was your college major, and do you intend to continue your education?

 

Steve Blevins: My major is Business Management and I hope to finish my degree in the next couple of years. I only have 2 more semesters to go, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get done. I’ll definitely finish it up though.

 

SethSpeaks: The Twins drafted you in the 21st round in June. Had you been talking to the Twins and their scouts, or were other teams talking to you a lot?

 

Steve Blevins: Yeah I had talked to a lot teams and had workouts with a few as well. I talked to the Twins, Red Sox and Reds the most so I had a feeling I might be picked by one of them. The week before the draft I had lunch with my Twins scout (Jeremy Booth), and after talking with him I was very excited about possibly being chosen by the Twins.

 

SethSpeaks: What was the draft like for you, knowing you would be drafted sometime? Where were you expecting to be selected?

 

Steve Blevins: I was more excited than anything on draft day; I think my parents and brothers were the nervous ones haha. I know going into the draft that you never know what is going to happen and I think that helped me on draft day. I had been told my most teams that I talked to that they thought I would go somewhere between rounds 8-15. Obviously I was disappointed that I went lower but I couldn’t complain because I knew I was still getting the chance to live my dream.

.

 

SethSpeaks: You reported to Ft. Myers and pitched just eight games for the GCL Twins before moving up to Elizabethton for the remainder of the season. But after being used primarily as a starter in college, you pitched out of the bullpen in 2008. Compare starting versus relieving, and the adjustments that you had to make to be successful. 

 

Steve Blevins: It took me some time to get used to throwing on back to back nights. In college I was used to starting and throwing once a week, so it was a big change. It also took me some time to get used to sitting around for 6 or 7 innings and then throwing the 8^th or 9^th, but it’s a role that I like very much.

 

SethSpeaks: What were the adjustments off the field to becoming a professional baseball player and that lifestyle (bus rides, pay checks, etc.)?

 

Steve Blevins: You have to take care of yourself and your body. We played a short season but it’s easy to see that Minor League Baseball is a grind and something you have to be prepared for. Playing in the GCL and then Appy League, we didn’t really have any bad bus rides. Our longest was probably 3 hours or so, so that part was good.

 

SethSpeaks: Pitching out of the bullpen, you averaged more than a strikeout per inning. What pitches do you throw? Which pitches are you working on, and which pitch do you consider your “out-pitch?”

 

Steve Blevins: I throw a fastball, change-up, and slider. I’m working on getting all three of those pitches as good as I can before learning and new pitches. I would say my slider is probably my out pitch most of the time, but at times my fastball can be too. It all depends on the hitter and the situation.

 

SethSpeaks: What were your goals coming into pro ball for the 2008 season, and how did you feel about your pro debut?

 

Steve Blevins: My main goals were to stay healthy, throw the ball well, and learn how things are supposed to be done. I was told by scouts and different baseball people to really soak up as much as I could from coaches and other players and know what to expect in Spring Training. I feel ok about my first year. I feel that I can improve on my numbers, but overall I felt fine about my first experience in pro ball, and that makes me even more excited for the 2009 season.

 

SethSpeaks: The E-Twins had another remarkable season, and you were a big part in the bullpen. After the Mark Hamburger trade, you became the playoff closer for the team. Talk a little about the talent on the team’s pitching staff and what it was like to be a part of it?

 

Steve Blevins: It was easily the most talented pitching staff I have ever been a part of. I think we had a good mix of guys that went well together. It seemed like every night someone different would step up and throw the ball well. Being in the bullpen was a new experience for me, but it grew on me quick. I like having the opportunity to throw several times a week and I also like getting the chance to throw late in games and all that comes with it.

 

SethSpeaks:  Talk a little bit about that E-Town offensive attack. Are there a couple of players that stand out to you as potential future stars?

 

Steve Blevins: Man those guys can hit…..I was impressed with a lot of our hitters and a lot of them could be potential future stars, but one that stands out to me in Angel Morales. I mean for someone to put up the numbers he did at his age is pretty remarkable.

 

SethSpeaks: What have you done during the offseason? After a long year of baseball, were you able to get away from the game for awhile, and when do you start preparing for the 2009 season?

 

Steve Blevins: After instructs I returned home and took a few weeks off to let me my body rest up. Since then I have been working out and getting ready to start our throwing program which gets going in January. I have been giving pitching lessons and substitute teaching to keep me busy and make some money in the offseason.

 

SethSpeaks: Have you heard much about the Twins organization, and their philosophies on building from within, and their success in developing pitchers? What are your thoughts on the organization now that you have spent a little bit of time in it?

 

Steve Blevins: I’m definitely impressed with the Twins organization and especially the way they develop pitchers. I feel lucky to be part of an organization that believes in developing and using their farm system. Shortly after I was drafted, everyone I talked to told me how the Twins were a great organization and I can see why after spending my first season with them.

 

SethSpeaks: Have you set any goals for yourself for 2009? Are there certain statistics that you look at?

 

Steve Blevins: One goal I always have is to stay healthy. Other than that I haven’t set any goals just yet. That is something I’ll do in January/February as the season nears, but I do have a few in mind. I’m not really a big statistics guy, I know they mean a lot, but I don’t necessarily look that them too much. If you are throwing the ball well and doing what you’re supposed to be doing they will take care of themselves.

 

SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Book?

 

Steve Blevins: Pete Rose- My Prison Without Bars. I read this book in high school and its still one of my favorites.

 

SethSpeaks: Favorite Baseball Movie?

 

Steve Blevins: 61…..It’s a classic

A big thank you goes to Steve Blevins for taking the time to answer these questions. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to put them in the comments below, or e-mail me and I will try to get a response. Have a great day!

Vikings Win, Advance

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

Well, the Vikings settled for a nearly 50 yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, but as expected, he made it easily and get the Minnesota Vikings a 20-19 win over the New York Giants. The win gave the Vikings their first division title in eight seasons. Now, I haven’t talked about the Vikings on this site a lot. I am a Vikings fan, and I watch or listen to all of their games. I enjoy watching the team and thinking through the game. Just not in the same way as I am with baseball. That said, I do want to provide a space for the SethSpeaks readers to talk about the Vikings. Here are a few of my thoughts, add to it if you like:

·         Brad Childress – Of course they should bring him back. This team that was supposed to be so great because of the new faces, that started slow and “disappointed” many of their fans, went 10-6, won the division and will host a playoff game. It was be crazy to start all over again, not when you have this much talent.

·         QB Situation – I’m cool with Tarvaris Jackson starting. He makes things happen. Sure, not all of those things are positive, but you have to like what he can do. I’m one of those people that believes that it is good for a leader to sit back and watch some of the game and learn. I think that it is good for a young pitcher who is struggling to be replaced for a start or two by someone to just watch and learn and not take anything for granted. Likewise, I think it was good for Jackson to sit out and watch the game a different way. He has come back a different QB. And his arm and his legs are both strong and he is able to do things. Will he be perfect? Of course not. Does he make any more mistakes than Tony Romo? Probably not. Is he a prototypical playoff QB with a resume? No, but he’s the best option for the team. Worry about next year in a couple of months.

·         AP’s Dropsies – It is alarming, isn’t it? But as you would expect, it isn’t a big deal to me either. You hate to see it, but I don’t want to see Adrian Peterson run any differently. Keep giving him the ball. It’s like having that shortstop that never makes an error, but doesn’t have any range either. I’ll take my chances with the guy who makes an error or two but has the ability to make plays that few others can. Fortunately for the Vikings, they have two guys that can make big plays.

·         The Defense – Having Pat Williams does matter. The Giants, who have a great line and a strong group of RBs, were able to run wild on the Vikings today. They’ll be fine though.

·         The Playoffs – Well, as I type this, the Eagles are beating the Cowboys 27-3 at halftime. It’s a comical game to watch. The Vikings will play the Eagles (probably) next weekend. That is a scary matchup. The Eagles defense is solid, and Brian Westbrook is one of the two or three most scary backs in the game when healthy. Donovan McNabb is pretty up and down, but I think he has the ability to carry a team still. Can the Vikings win? I think that the Vikings have as much talent as anyone in the NFC, so I think that they can compete with anyone. They don’t have the playoff experience, but I think that is overrated in many ways. Do I think they’ll win more than a game? Geez, I’m not even convinced they’ll win one game. In fact, I think there is a good chance that both the #3 and #4 seeds have a good chance at losing to the #5 (Atlanta Falcons) and #6 (probably Philadelphia) seeds. But to a lesser degree than the baseball playoffs, anything can happen.

 

Here is your chance to talk Vikings at SethSpeaks… leave your comments here.

NFL “Expert” Picks – Week 17

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

I certainly hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas and have a great weekend. I want to post our panel’s Week 17 picks, in case you haven’t turned in your picks yet to your office pool! I am still waiting for a couple of our panelists and will add their picks when I receive them. I don’t think that I am going out on a limb by guessing who Kevin Slowey will pick in that Steelers game! Before getting to the picks, here are a couple of quick notes:

·         A reminder – if you tune into KFAN on Friday morning at about 8:05 a.m., I will be on with Doogie Woolfson and Phil Mackey for a segment. You can listen to it at am 1130 in the Twin Cities, or any of the station’s regional affiliates. You can also listen to it online at KFAN.com.

• Also, if you happen to be in the Austin, MN, area, I will be interviewed for a segment on KAUS am radio to likely be aired Friday afternoon between 1 and 3 p.m. There is a link to some streaming audio. 
• The Twins signed knuckleballer R.A. Dickey to a minor league contract this week. It is the second straight year that they signed Dickey to a contract. You will recall that they signed him a year earlier, just a couple of days before the Rule 5 draft. The Seattle Mariners took him in the Rule 5 draft. Although he didn’t make the M’s roster out of spring training, the Twins acquired catcher Jair Fernandez which allowed the Mariners to keep him. He moved back and forth from Seattle to their Tacoma (AAA) affiliate throughout the year. A year ago, I liked that the Twins signed Dickey. The 83 mph knuckle ball he had developed intrigued me. Now he’s got another year of experience with it, but I am not as excited about it. In reality, he will compete with Boof Bonser, Phil Humber, Bobby Korecky and others for the final bullpen spot. As I always said, depth is a good thing, but I can’t imagine a scenario in which he could possibly make the Twins roster.
• So the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira to an 8 year, $180 million contract. People ask me what my reaction to that is. Honestly, it just makes me laugh. I find it comical. Just spend more money, that’ll help. I find the best stat to be that the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since their payroll went over $100 million. So sure, they stockpile players who will be old at the end of their contracts. I can see the Yankees being very good the next couple of years, and then being right back where they were in 2008 within a couple of years when all their players are old, and their older pitchers are then hurt or not the same. These signings (including CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, and probably Manny Ramirez, and who knows who else) just add to the Yankees equal ‘bad guys’ and makes me much more happy that I’m a Twins fan!               

 

The Panel

If you are curious about who is in the panel and the up-to-date standings, you can click here:

The Week 17 Picks

With that introduction out of the way, to check out our Week 17 picks, head over to www.SethSpeaks.net :

Happy Holidays!! (Thank you!)

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

Hi Everyone!! It seems as good a time as any to take some time to thank some people, but first, I want to wish all of you a Happy Holiday season, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, or something else.

But as the season and the year moves forward, I do want to take a moment to send some thank you’s.

First, I want to thank everyone who has contributed to SethSpeaks.net. Obviously that means Roger Dehring, mini_tb, and others, but it also means all of those who take the time to contribute in the Comments section. It’s not mandatory for us all to agree all the time, but I do think that the Comments on this site have remained, for the most part, an educated discussion as opposed to a disrespectful mess. I appreciate that and hope that will continue.

I want to take a moment to thank the Twins beat writers including Phil Miller, LaVelle E. Neal, Joe Christensen and Kelly Thesier, who all do an incredible job of keeping us updated in the newspapers or online on what is going on with and around the Twins.

I want to thank the other Twins bloggers. Be sure to check out the links provided on the left. Twins fans are pretty lucky. There are a lot of good bloggers, but I think that each of them provides a little something different which is great so that you don’t see the same thing at numerous locations.

I want to thank the Twins players and minor leaguers who have helped out with this site. I didn’t do as many Q&As this year as in the past, but we did a few. By the way, there will be a couple of new ones coming in the very near future. Kevin Slowey, Kyle Waldrop, Jeff Manship, Joe Benson and Steve Singleton all participated in the NFL “Expert” Picks this year. (to see how they, and the rest of our panel, did in Week 16 or are doing in the overall standings, click here.) Pat Neshek, even in a tough year for him personally, was kind enough to engage me and the readers several times throughout the year.

I want to thank those of you who have participated in the Minnesota Twins Weekly Podcasts. Since July, there have been enough guests to make a new show available nearly every week. That includes many of those already thanked and others. But it also includes all of you who take the time to listen to the shows, and more to those who go to the chat room and participate. That has been a fun thing to do. And of course, I have to thank Marty Andrade for involving me in his weekly podcasts earlier in the season which gave me the bug to want to do it myself.

I would like to thank those radio stations and personalities who have asked me to be on their shows. Particularly, I would like to thank Jack Michaels  from am710, the ESPN radio station in Bismarck, ND, for having me on regularly. (For those of you who are able to listen, I will be on KFAN on Friday afternoon during the 2:00 hour with Doogie Wolfson and Phil Mackey, so be sure to listen to that on your local KFAN affiliate or on the flagship’s website.)

I want to thank those in and around the Twins organization, and those in and around their minor league affiliates. I won’t name names, for obvious reasons, but they know who they are. The information gleaned from them is invaluable to anyone who, like me, is fascinated by the minor leagues, the system, player development and anything like that. We can all look at the box scores and the stat lines, but without the time or financial wherewithal to travel to watch the Twins affiliates, gaining more specific information on players is always fun.

Thank you to everyone who has had anything to do with the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook – 2009. I have to thank Pat Neshek (again!) for writing the Foreword. Thank you to those who were willing to give quotes to be used in the book. Thanks to those who provided me their Top 30 or 40 Twins prospect lists, which were also included in the book. I want to thank everyone who pre-ordered a copy (or more) of the book… (NOTE – If you still have not received your pre-ordered copy, please let me know!) I want to also thank those bloggers and writers who have been so kind as to provide a link to the LuLu.com Storefront so that even more people could buy the book. Writing a book is a lot of work. I have to thank Jeff Straub for giving me the idea in the first place. It was a challenge, to be certain, but it is a topic I really enjoy and the process was fun. From writing and editing, to trying to market and promote it and finally sell it, has been interesting, but also fun. Hopefully people enjoy it, provide me some feedback, and it can become an annual publication.  (by the way, you will notice that I have taken $1 off of the list price for the Christmas Week, so be sure to take advantage of that sale!!)

And finally, I want to thank everyone who takes the time to visit the site on a daily basis, or listen to the podcasts, or bought the book. This website is a lot of work, but at the same time, talking about something like Minnesota Twins baseball makes it enjoyable. I know a lot of people disagree with the way the Twins do business. I don’t agree with everything, but I definitely understand it, and it has proven to be incredibly successful. The Twins front office has provided its fan with a competitive team for nearly a decade. Mid-market teams don’t do that, and yet, the Twins have. So, thank you to the Twins organization for that.

Everyone needs a hobby. Everyone needs something that they are passionate about. This website provides me with the vehicle to share my thoughts and comments on baseball and the Minnesota Twins and minor leaguers, my passions. I’m glad that people seem to enjoy it.

So again, thank you to everyone. As always, your feedback on anything is greatly appreciated. I sincerely wish Happy Holidays to all of you, and to your families. Best wishes for success and joy!

By the way, there will be postings here over the next week or two. I will have our NFL “Expert” Picks later this week. That article I teased yesterday, will be posted sometime in the next day or two. And of course, if anything happens Twins-related, I will comment on it. Any thoughts? Leave your comments here.

Weekend Review

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

Good Monday morning to everyone!! Just a few quick thoughts and then I’m going to get some sleep. I will actually be posting another article later today, something I’ve done some research on and written out, I just want to verify a couple more things before publishing it. So be sure to check back for that. Here are just a few random thoughts and links for people to discuss:

·         Following his incredible performance on Thursday night, many people seemed to believe that Peyton Manning had not only won a game for the Colts, but possibly won another MVP award for himself. If that is the case, is it also possible that with his performance on Sunday afternoon, Adrian Peterson took himself out of the running for that award?

·         Do you believe in Tubby? On Saturday, the Gophers remained undefeated by beating #9 ranked Louisville. They actually controlled most of the game and pulled out the win on a neutral site. Am I ready to call the Gophers a Big 10 contender for this year? I’m not so sure yet. However, I did buy into the Gophers football team’s 7-1 start, and then they lost four in a row. I might be a little bit gun shy to make any such statement on the Gophers hoops squad. That said, I have a lot more belief in Tubby than in Tim Brewster.

·         Anyone else sick of Winter yet? And just to think, it only officially became Winter on Sunday!

·         Mark Teixeira is a very good ball player. That is an easy statement to make. But is he really in the Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez camp of good? I mean, what has he done to have teams willing to go seven and eight years and $22-28 million dollars? Am I missing something?

·         Team Canada announced the Ernie Whitt would be its manager in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Also, Twins 1B Justin Morneau was the first player named to Team Canada. No surprises, but it does make you ask, which other Twins players could be playing for their home country in the WBC? Could Jesse Crain play for Team Canada? Will Joe Nathan be on Team USA again? Joe Mauer backed out of playing in it last time around. He would certainly be asked to play again this coming tournament, but would he accept this time? We can be pretty certain that Luke Hughes will be on the Australian team. Could Francisco Liriano pitch for The Dominican Republic? Would the Twins let him?  You have to assume that some of the young Twins minor leaguers from other countries have an opportunity as well.

·         Here is a YouTube link to Chris Coste speaking at Rider University in September. It is very good.

·         Here is a nice feel-good story from the “Oldtimer” Tom Grout who blogs for the Fergus Falls Journal. Take a minute or two to check it out.

·         And finally, what is The Greatest Christmas Movie of All-Time, according to Twins starter Kevin Slowey? Click here to find out!

Any thoughts? Leave your comments here.

Minor Signings

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

I received word that the Twins have signed a few minor league free agents. None are terribly exciting, but each has had at least a little bit of Major League time, and who knows, given the right set of circumstances, could get there again. Will it be with the Twins in 2009? Well, we shall see. They are:

Luis Matos – The former big-time OF prospect of the Baltimore Orioles. He spent at least part of each season between 2000 and 2006 with the O’s. Matos has been a journeyman the last couple of years. After being released by the O’s in July of 2006, he signed with the Nationals where he got 15 at bats in 14 games before being released. He split 2007 between the AAA affiliates of the Pirates and Mets. He did not receive an offer for the 2008 season, so he played in Mexico, for the Yucatan Leones. He is currently playing in Puerto Rico where he has been quite impressive this winter. Matos was once the CF of the future for the Orioles. He is now a journeyman 30 year old outfielder. In reality, the Twins probably just hope that he can come close to producing for Rochester as well as the recently departed Darnell McDonald did (McDonald signed with the Reds last week).

Bobby Keppel – Keppel was the 1^st round pick of the New York Mets in 2000 out of high school. He started in the Appalachian League and basically moved up one level a year until he finally made his big league debut in 2006 at the age of 23 for the Kansas City Royals. In 34.1 innings, he gave up 45 hits and walked 15. He moved to the Rockies in 2007. He started 23 games in AAA before getting four relief appearances in Colorado. In four innings, he gave up six hits and walked three more. He spent 2008 in the Marlins AAA rotation, in Albuquerque, where he went 9-11 with a 5.99 ERA. In 159.1 innings, he gave up 208 hits and walked another 57. He struck out just 85. It is pretty difficult to get too excited about this signing. He is still just 26 years old with big league experience. I would imagine that he could fight for a spot in the Rochester starting rotation.  

Sean Henn – Henn was the 30^th round pick of the New York Yankees in 1999. At 24, he made his big league debut in the Bronx in 2005 by making three starts and going 0-3 with a 11.12 ERA. In 2006, he got into four more games for eth Yankees. In 2007, he pitched in 29 games for the Yankees and went 2-2 with a 7.12 ERA in 36.2 innings. He began the 2008 season in the Yankees organization but was released and claimed by the San Diego Padres. He got into four games for the Padres. He walked nine and struck out nine in 9.1 innings of relief. Henn is a 27 year old, 6-5 lefty that could start for the Red Wings but could also work out of the team’s bullpen.  

Again, I don’t think any of these three players will being the 2009 season with the Twins. They provide depth to the organization. Any thoughts? Leave your comments here.   

NFL “Expert” Picks – Week 16

also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -

Hi everyone!! Another Thursday night game, so here are our football picks. There is only one game where we can not yet predict a winner, Cleveland and Cincinnati. For the other games, we have our majority. We are still waiting for a few picks and I will enter those as I receive them.

The Panel

If you are curious about who is in the panel and the up-to-date standings, you can click here:

The Week 16 Picks

With that introduction out of the way, you can find our expert’s picks at www.SethSpeaks.net.