What is going on with the Twins hitters? Nobody can seem to get a timely hit, especially against some of these pitchers they've been facing.
I think the biggest problem is pitch selection. Instead of looking for something they can drive with less than two strikes, they're up there hacking away and taking defensive swings with one or no strikes against them, often times resulting in weak pop-ups and groundballs. I don't understand why they don't look for a pitch in their comfort zone that they can take a good solid swing. Instead every pitcher they've been facing looks like Cy Young.
This poor hitting is eerily similar to the start of last year, when they weren't scoring more than a couple of runs a game and fell way behind the Tigers and White Sox, before the Whities faded of course and eventually Detroit wilted.
It is April after all and there are still five months to go, so I'm not giving up hope yet. But, they better turn things around and give Santana and company some run support.
Who knows, one of these days, I might get to watch a full game and give a detailed report on what they did right, wrong and my full distaste for Capt. Obvious and Mr. Circle (Dick & Bert).
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
I'm not Tiger Woods
I know it's been a while since the last post, so here's a little recap of my return to golfing, after ending my 12-year hiatus last summer. My foursome included Pops, Sneaky Pete, me and a guy named Brad, who was part of the bachelor party.
First a little backstory. I quit golf roughly 13 years ago, because I couldn't hit the ball. Not because I sliced it, hooked it or topped it. It was because I couldn't hit it. It got in my head and I kept swinging and missing, so I quit. I figured if I'm not going to hit the ball, why waste all those swings. I returned last year at my cousin's wedding in southern Illinois and it turns out I could the ball again, however, not with much accuracy, but contact was made, about 130 times or more. So I bought a new set of Taylor Mades, for my second attempt at golf.
This past Saturday was Scooter's bachelor party, and the first leg consisted of golf at River Oaks in Cottage Grove. The wind was blowing at a steady 25-30 mph and of course the first hole was directly into the wind. Coincidentally, this fact brought the funniest line of the day from Brad to me and SP.
Brad: "Are all of the holes going to be into the wind?"
Which actually generated no response from me and SP.
Hole 1: Par 5. I was the third to tee off in our foursome with Scooter taking pictures of our first drives. Taking the gale-force wind into account, I decide I need to keep my shots low to get any distance. I tee up my ball and say to myself "please don't slice it into the maintenance shed." I proceed to swing and viola! contact. I kept it low and hardly sliced it. I was able to see my ball the whole way, unlike others in our group who hit it over the trees and onto the fairway...of the adjacent 9th hole. It was only a short walk to my second shot, just left of the ladies tee box. Wonderful. Nice start to the par 5 and the 17 more chances off the teebox to come. I end up two-putting for a 7 or 8 on the hole, not bad considering the 40-yard drive, 45-yard second shot and visiting the sand and the fairway once.
Hole 2: Nothing worth mentioning. Made a 6 or 7 in unspectacular fashion.
Hole 3: Longest drive contest, par 4. Needless to say, I didn't have the longest drive. However, it was just left of the fairway, leaving me a decent approach toward the green, about 160 yards. My next shot was a thing of beauty. Fairly straight, but left of the hole and it just happened to stop on the fringe. It would have been one of the rare times, if not the first time for me to be on in regulation. Granted I was still a good 30 feet from the hole. My first putt left me about 5 to 6 feet away from the hole. "Holy crap, I have a chance to make a par, don't blow this." And of course, I hit the ball perfect, if I was only 3 feet away.
Pops: "Nice putt, Alice."
But what's this, the 30 mph wind is pushing the ball toward the hole and the last 30 inches are pure magic as the ball keeps rotating and rotating before disappearing into the cup. My first par!
Time to celebrate, and the drinking begins. Not the best combination, novice golfer, high wind and beer for 15 more holes. This could get uglier.
Hole 4: Par 3 up a hill, closest to the pin contest. The first foursome didn't hit the green. Nor did Pops or SP or Brad. My shot was a little too much club and a little too much left, into the bunker. My bunker shot left me about 7-8 feet from the hole and I failed to make the first putt, but the second was true for a 4. We watched the three-some behind us and they didn't get it on the green either, so now #7 is the closest to the pin.
Hole 5: 285-par 4. My first drive, left and O.B. Great. I get to do it again. This time I was not as far left and kept it in play. Fourth shot on the green and two putts for a 6, would have been a par but the penalties killed me. The best shot on that hole belonged to Pops. He hit his drive straight with good distance, it bounced in front of the trap/waste area and over it, heading for the green, in one shot, but lo and behold, there is a rake at the back and it catches his ball before it can reach the green. I don't believe he made par.
Hole 6: Into the teeth of the wind.
Me (in my head): "Keep the ball low, just keep it in play."
Once again it was low, as the nearby worms ducked for cover, as did the threesome behind us as my ball came straight for them on the green of #5. Out of bounds. Again. Try again. This time a little straighter, but not much further as it stopped on the backside of a good-sized hill. 3-iron off the hill, about 90 feet high and 60 yards closer to the pin. I think I only needed one putt, but it was another 7.
As we finished the hole there was a bolt of lightning followed by thunder a second later. So we headed to the clubhouse for a little break.
SP on the way to the clubhouse: "For every beer you drink, you can take two strokes off your score."
Me: "For every beer I don't drink it saves me three strokes."
So we order more drinks in the clubhouse.
Hole 7: Par 3, closest to the pin (redux). Again hitting into the wind (are all of these holes into the wind?). 7-iron straight at the pin.
SP and Pops: "That's got a chance of going in."
Unfortunately, the wind caught it and it was short of the green, but not by much. If I hit a 6-iron there, I may have ended up on the Hole in One plaque. I chipped it about 6 or 7 feet from the hole and a little side-hill put to deal with. And what do you know, I made it, another par. After never making a par before, I make two in one round. Why did I ever quit?
Hole 8: Another stellar drive, short and right. Next shot into the trees and left of the fairway, placing a pond between me and the green.
Pete: "I'll say you have a 50 percent chance of putting it in the water, 10 percent of being on the green and 40 percent for anything else."
Put me in the 40 percent category, just over the water and still left of the green. Of all the angles I could have taken, that ball staying dry and ending up where it did was like 2 percent. Chip, putt, putt.
Hole 9: Drive into the trees and followed by zig-zagging up to the sand, followed by a decent shot (for me) and a couple of putts.
Hole 10: Down the hill and around the bend. Nothing notable.
Hole 11: Don't really remember.
Hole 12: 169-yard par 3 over water. And of course, into the wind. Sneaky Pete hits a 3-iron just over the pond. Pops, 5-wood just over the pond. Brad, into the pond. Me, trouble club left of the water, 30-yards from the pin. My next chip was a grounder to first and in the water. So I take another ball out of my pocket and re-hit from there. Perfect shot, ends up 2 feet from the hole.
Pops: "Nice 5!"
SP: "The B-Player is awesome!"
Me: "I have to take a leak."
Hole 13: Par 5, Takes me 4 to get on the green and down in 2. Everyone else is there before me, but need more putts.
Hole 14: Par 4 dogleg left toward the highway.
Me: "I like this hole."
First shot, goes sailing left and through the fence. Second shot, near the fence. Third shot, 2 feet and a big divot, next shot, fouled it off (the beer is beginning to really take effect). Next shot, big divot again but closer to the green. Next shot in the sand. It takes me 3 to get out and two more putts.
Me: "About a 12 or 13". I actually quit counting, but replaying the shots, I think it's fair to say, that's what I made.
Hole 15: Dogleg back into the wind. Many shots, not many very good.
Hole 16: Par 3, wind at our backs. A non-descript 5.
Hole 17: Into the wind again. A couple more crummy shots for a 6 or 7.
Hole 18: Dogleg, up a mountain toward the clubhouse. Five shots to make it to the green, and down in one.
With the wind and the drinking, I end up shooting the best round of my life, 118 (110 under the Sneaky Pete Scoring Method, which I like better than Stableford) with two pars to go with it.
I'll spare you the details of the ensuing night of drinking.
First a little backstory. I quit golf roughly 13 years ago, because I couldn't hit the ball. Not because I sliced it, hooked it or topped it. It was because I couldn't hit it. It got in my head and I kept swinging and missing, so I quit. I figured if I'm not going to hit the ball, why waste all those swings. I returned last year at my cousin's wedding in southern Illinois and it turns out I could the ball again, however, not with much accuracy, but contact was made, about 130 times or more. So I bought a new set of Taylor Mades, for my second attempt at golf.
This past Saturday was Scooter's bachelor party, and the first leg consisted of golf at River Oaks in Cottage Grove. The wind was blowing at a steady 25-30 mph and of course the first hole was directly into the wind. Coincidentally, this fact brought the funniest line of the day from Brad to me and SP.
Brad: "Are all of the holes going to be into the wind?"
Which actually generated no response from me and SP.
Hole 1: Par 5. I was the third to tee off in our foursome with Scooter taking pictures of our first drives. Taking the gale-force wind into account, I decide I need to keep my shots low to get any distance. I tee up my ball and say to myself "please don't slice it into the maintenance shed." I proceed to swing and viola! contact. I kept it low and hardly sliced it. I was able to see my ball the whole way, unlike others in our group who hit it over the trees and onto the fairway...of the adjacent 9th hole. It was only a short walk to my second shot, just left of the ladies tee box. Wonderful. Nice start to the par 5 and the 17 more chances off the teebox to come. I end up two-putting for a 7 or 8 on the hole, not bad considering the 40-yard drive, 45-yard second shot and visiting the sand and the fairway once.
Hole 2: Nothing worth mentioning. Made a 6 or 7 in unspectacular fashion.
Hole 3: Longest drive contest, par 4. Needless to say, I didn't have the longest drive. However, it was just left of the fairway, leaving me a decent approach toward the green, about 160 yards. My next shot was a thing of beauty. Fairly straight, but left of the hole and it just happened to stop on the fringe. It would have been one of the rare times, if not the first time for me to be on in regulation. Granted I was still a good 30 feet from the hole. My first putt left me about 5 to 6 feet away from the hole. "Holy crap, I have a chance to make a par, don't blow this." And of course, I hit the ball perfect, if I was only 3 feet away.
Pops: "Nice putt, Alice."
But what's this, the 30 mph wind is pushing the ball toward the hole and the last 30 inches are pure magic as the ball keeps rotating and rotating before disappearing into the cup. My first par!
Time to celebrate, and the drinking begins. Not the best combination, novice golfer, high wind and beer for 15 more holes. This could get uglier.
Hole 4: Par 3 up a hill, closest to the pin contest. The first foursome didn't hit the green. Nor did Pops or SP or Brad. My shot was a little too much club and a little too much left, into the bunker. My bunker shot left me about 7-8 feet from the hole and I failed to make the first putt, but the second was true for a 4. We watched the three-some behind us and they didn't get it on the green either, so now #7 is the closest to the pin.
Hole 5: 285-par 4. My first drive, left and O.B. Great. I get to do it again. This time I was not as far left and kept it in play. Fourth shot on the green and two putts for a 6, would have been a par but the penalties killed me. The best shot on that hole belonged to Pops. He hit his drive straight with good distance, it bounced in front of the trap/waste area and over it, heading for the green, in one shot, but lo and behold, there is a rake at the back and it catches his ball before it can reach the green. I don't believe he made par.
Hole 6: Into the teeth of the wind.
Me (in my head): "Keep the ball low, just keep it in play."
Once again it was low, as the nearby worms ducked for cover, as did the threesome behind us as my ball came straight for them on the green of #5. Out of bounds. Again. Try again. This time a little straighter, but not much further as it stopped on the backside of a good-sized hill. 3-iron off the hill, about 90 feet high and 60 yards closer to the pin. I think I only needed one putt, but it was another 7.
As we finished the hole there was a bolt of lightning followed by thunder a second later. So we headed to the clubhouse for a little break.
SP on the way to the clubhouse: "For every beer you drink, you can take two strokes off your score."
Me: "For every beer I don't drink it saves me three strokes."
So we order more drinks in the clubhouse.
Hole 7: Par 3, closest to the pin (redux). Again hitting into the wind (are all of these holes into the wind?). 7-iron straight at the pin.
SP and Pops: "That's got a chance of going in."
Unfortunately, the wind caught it and it was short of the green, but not by much. If I hit a 6-iron there, I may have ended up on the Hole in One plaque. I chipped it about 6 or 7 feet from the hole and a little side-hill put to deal with. And what do you know, I made it, another par. After never making a par before, I make two in one round. Why did I ever quit?
Hole 8: Another stellar drive, short and right. Next shot into the trees and left of the fairway, placing a pond between me and the green.
Pete: "I'll say you have a 50 percent chance of putting it in the water, 10 percent of being on the green and 40 percent for anything else."
Put me in the 40 percent category, just over the water and still left of the green. Of all the angles I could have taken, that ball staying dry and ending up where it did was like 2 percent. Chip, putt, putt.
Hole 9: Drive into the trees and followed by zig-zagging up to the sand, followed by a decent shot (for me) and a couple of putts.
Hole 10: Down the hill and around the bend. Nothing notable.
Hole 11: Don't really remember.
Hole 12: 169-yard par 3 over water. And of course, into the wind. Sneaky Pete hits a 3-iron just over the pond. Pops, 5-wood just over the pond. Brad, into the pond. Me, trouble club left of the water, 30-yards from the pin. My next chip was a grounder to first and in the water. So I take another ball out of my pocket and re-hit from there. Perfect shot, ends up 2 feet from the hole.
Pops: "Nice 5!"
SP: "The B-Player is awesome!"
Me: "I have to take a leak."
Hole 13: Par 5, Takes me 4 to get on the green and down in 2. Everyone else is there before me, but need more putts.
Hole 14: Par 4 dogleg left toward the highway.
Me: "I like this hole."
First shot, goes sailing left and through the fence. Second shot, near the fence. Third shot, 2 feet and a big divot, next shot, fouled it off (the beer is beginning to really take effect). Next shot, big divot again but closer to the green. Next shot in the sand. It takes me 3 to get out and two more putts.
Me: "About a 12 or 13". I actually quit counting, but replaying the shots, I think it's fair to say, that's what I made.
Hole 15: Dogleg back into the wind. Many shots, not many very good.
Hole 16: Par 3, wind at our backs. A non-descript 5.
Hole 17: Into the wind again. A couple more crummy shots for a 6 or 7.
Hole 18: Dogleg, up a mountain toward the clubhouse. Five shots to make it to the green, and down in one.
With the wind and the drinking, I end up shooting the best round of my life, 118 (110 under the Sneaky Pete Scoring Method, which I like better than Stableford) with two pars to go with it.
I'll spare you the details of the ensuing night of drinking.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
It's a start
At least the Wild didn't get swept.
With their 4-1 win over the Ducks last night, they go back to Anaheim for Game 5 Thursday night. Let's see if they can carry this momentum into the next game. The good news for the Wild is they not only scored 4 goals, but won't have to deal with two Anaheim thugs. Brad May and Third-man-in Thornton, should both be suspended for their actions late in the game. I don't want to whine about the refs, but they have been brutal this series. One example was Stephane Veilleux's penalty he took after getting mugged by two Ducks players and taking a punch to the back of the head. Of course, Anaheim scored on the ensuing power-play.
That should help create some space on the ice for the Wild skaters and force the Ducks to go a little deeper into their bench.
This series reminds me a little bit of the Vancouver series in 2003, when the Canucks tried again and again to use intimidation as their main game plan. Eventually it failed as the Wild won the series 4-3. The Wild still have a big hole to dig out of, but it is a start.
If they can win Game 5, that may create a bit of a problem for me, as I am supposed to go to a bachelor party for my sister's fiancee (Scott) on Saturday. Hopefully the Wild will play a night game at home, which they most surely will now that the Red Wings and Flames are going to a game 5, scheduled for 2 p.m. This way, I'll be able to play with my new golf clubs, the first set I purchased after my 12 year hiatus from the game. If the Wild lose Game 5, I won't have to worry about it and may actually see a few players out there on the links.
With their 4-1 win over the Ducks last night, they go back to Anaheim for Game 5 Thursday night. Let's see if they can carry this momentum into the next game. The good news for the Wild is they not only scored 4 goals, but won't have to deal with two Anaheim thugs. Brad May and Third-man-in Thornton, should both be suspended for their actions late in the game. I don't want to whine about the refs, but they have been brutal this series. One example was Stephane Veilleux's penalty he took after getting mugged by two Ducks players and taking a punch to the back of the head. Of course, Anaheim scored on the ensuing power-play.
That should help create some space on the ice for the Wild skaters and force the Ducks to go a little deeper into their bench.
This series reminds me a little bit of the Vancouver series in 2003, when the Canucks tried again and again to use intimidation as their main game plan. Eventually it failed as the Wild won the series 4-3. The Wild still have a big hole to dig out of, but it is a start.
If they can win Game 5, that may create a bit of a problem for me, as I am supposed to go to a bachelor party for my sister's fiancee (Scott) on Saturday. Hopefully the Wild will play a night game at home, which they most surely will now that the Red Wings and Flames are going to a game 5, scheduled for 2 p.m. This way, I'll be able to play with my new golf clubs, the first set I purchased after my 12 year hiatus from the game. If the Wild lose Game 5, I won't have to worry about it and may actually see a few players out there on the links.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Backs against the wall
After predicting the Wild would win in 5 games, the series may not make it that far. The Ducks seem to be too good with their gameplan of get an early lead and don't let the Wild into the offensive zone.
The only hope I have for the Wild is they can make something happen in the tranistion game, which would require a lucky bounce, or a forward making a good read on a pass before it happens to create a breakaway. Either that, or shoot the puck more on the powerplay. The one extra pass is killing this team when they have the man advantage.
Maybe the Ducks are impeding the path of Wild forecheckers. But if the officials aren't calling penalties on them, it's time to try something different. Instead of banging their heads against the wall, and complaining they can't get in the offensive zone, how about trying to find a way around it, the zone isn't completely sealed.
If the Wild are so intent on playing dump and chase, how about flipping the puck from inside the red line, over the heads of the defensemen and let the forecheckers go dig it out. Just a thought.
If I can come up with one idea on how to get in the zone, surely Jacques Lemaire can think of many to get inside, but we'll have to wait and see tonight.
As soon as the Wild are done with the playoffs, I'll dazzle you with my insights on the Twins, starting with one of the worst broadcast teams in baseball Captain Obvious and Mr. No Insight (Dick and Bert).
Until then, Go Wild!
The only hope I have for the Wild is they can make something happen in the tranistion game, which would require a lucky bounce, or a forward making a good read on a pass before it happens to create a breakaway. Either that, or shoot the puck more on the powerplay. The one extra pass is killing this team when they have the man advantage.
Maybe the Ducks are impeding the path of Wild forecheckers. But if the officials aren't calling penalties on them, it's time to try something different. Instead of banging their heads against the wall, and complaining they can't get in the offensive zone, how about trying to find a way around it, the zone isn't completely sealed.
If the Wild are so intent on playing dump and chase, how about flipping the puck from inside the red line, over the heads of the defensemen and let the forecheckers go dig it out. Just a thought.
If I can come up with one idea on how to get in the zone, surely Jacques Lemaire can think of many to get inside, but we'll have to wait and see tonight.
As soon as the Wild are done with the playoffs, I'll dazzle you with my insights on the Twins, starting with one of the worst broadcast teams in baseball Captain Obvious and Mr. No Insight (Dick and Bert).
Until then, Go Wild!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Another bad prediction
How difficult is it to avoid being offsides in the NHL? Watching the Wild-Ducks game Friday night, was definitely puzzilng. Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra, two guys who play together all the time, had a lot of trouble staying on the same page in Game 2. Even though I didn't count the number of times they were whistled for being offside, it seemed like more than a handful, effectively kiling any momentum they had mustered each time.
Aside from the opening six or seven minutes, the Wild seemed to lack intensity throughout the game. While trailing the entire third period the Wild didn't seem to be playing with any urgency. Players were holding the puck waiting for something to happen. Here's an idea, either skate it up the ice or pass it to someone else going up the ice.
For them to make any noise in this series they've got to get on the same page. Anaheim turned the puck over a lot, but the Wild couldn't capitalize. They almost seemed to tentative, afraid to be hit. I think the Ducks have gotten into their heads and now the Wild players can't seem to make up their mind about what they want to do with the puck, especially on the forecheck.
All in all, I would say the final two periods of game 2 were pretty ugly, even the Ducks' fans weren't into it, especially compared to Game 1 when they were making a lot of noise and waving their towels. Everyone in the building was waiting for something to happen, but it never really did.
For the Wild to have a chance, they need more players to create some offense like Pierre-Marc Bouchard attempted to do in Game 2. Brian Rolston has been absent in the two games, only taking a couple of long range shots. The Wild also need to start taking some more shots from the top of the circle and closer and try and bang home some rebounds. This isn't the same team that won nine in a row late in the season.
The one bright spot has been Niklas Backstrom, he's been solid and can't really be faulted for the goals he's given up.
Hopefully their fortunes will change when they return to home ice tomorrow.
Aside from the opening six or seven minutes, the Wild seemed to lack intensity throughout the game. While trailing the entire third period the Wild didn't seem to be playing with any urgency. Players were holding the puck waiting for something to happen. Here's an idea, either skate it up the ice or pass it to someone else going up the ice.
For them to make any noise in this series they've got to get on the same page. Anaheim turned the puck over a lot, but the Wild couldn't capitalize. They almost seemed to tentative, afraid to be hit. I think the Ducks have gotten into their heads and now the Wild players can't seem to make up their mind about what they want to do with the puck, especially on the forecheck.
All in all, I would say the final two periods of game 2 were pretty ugly, even the Ducks' fans weren't into it, especially compared to Game 1 when they were making a lot of noise and waving their towels. Everyone in the building was waiting for something to happen, but it never really did.
For the Wild to have a chance, they need more players to create some offense like Pierre-Marc Bouchard attempted to do in Game 2. Brian Rolston has been absent in the two games, only taking a couple of long range shots. The Wild also need to start taking some more shots from the top of the circle and closer and try and bang home some rebounds. This isn't the same team that won nine in a row late in the season.
The one bright spot has been Niklas Backstrom, he's been solid and can't really be faulted for the goals he's given up.
Hopefully their fortunes will change when they return to home ice tomorrow.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Odd behavior
Just a quick post today. As some of you may know, 2 year olds have some strange behavior. Pige is no exception. She is being potty-trained and while she is sitting on the toilet, she has to take her pants and her Pull-up all the way off. When she is done with that, off come the socks. No matter how many times we tell her to leave her clothes on, she won't have any of it.
We can't seem to figure out any motivation for doing so, but it is now one of her habits. Hopefully she'll grow out of it soon. I don't her doing that when she's at school in a few years.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Cup Fever
While I'm excited for the Wild to be in the playoffs, it's not as exciting as it was when the North Stars were here and they had to play division rivals Detroit, St. Louis, Toronto and of course the Chicago Blackhawks. When the North Stars and the Blackhawks met in the playoffs it was a blood feud. The players hated each other and the fans of both teams were always at odds as fights on the ice would spill over to fights in the stands. I used to fear for my parents safety when they would go to playoff games at the Old Chicago Stadium, where it was common for people to throw batteries on the ice and punches at each other. I was only about 8 or 9 then, and was probably justified in my feelings.
The first round or two of the playoffs were always filled with fights, but not any more.
The new playoff system has pretty much removed all rivalries and it's become almost like a lottery where the team with the hottest goaltender can make a deep run.
The Stanley Cup playoffs start tonight and of course the main series I'm interested in is the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks or whatever they're called now. Although the Wild are the #7 seed in the Western Conference, I think they have a legitimate shot at getting past Anaheim (which they failed to do four years ago). The Wild have been playing great hockey the second half of the season and with Jacques Lemaire coaching the team, they have to be considered a favorite. But alas, Vegas has them as underdog, oh well sometimes it's better to be the underdog.
The key to the series will be goaltender Niklas Backstrom and if he can stay hot. Last year Dwayne Roloson led the Oilers (the 8 seed in the west) to the Stanley Cup finals. The last time the Wild were in the playoffs it was J.S. Giguerre who led the Ducks to the finals (also as an 8 seed). The Wild definitely have more firepower than four years ago, but goaltending will remain the key to every series from here on out.
We'll see what happens when the puck drops at 9:30 tonight. Hopefully the Timberwolves continue their pathetic play and will be off the air by 9:15.
My prediction: Wild in 5.
The first round or two of the playoffs were always filled with fights, but not any more.
The new playoff system has pretty much removed all rivalries and it's become almost like a lottery where the team with the hottest goaltender can make a deep run.
The Stanley Cup playoffs start tonight and of course the main series I'm interested in is the Minnesota Wild and the Anaheim Ducks or whatever they're called now. Although the Wild are the #7 seed in the Western Conference, I think they have a legitimate shot at getting past Anaheim (which they failed to do four years ago). The Wild have been playing great hockey the second half of the season and with Jacques Lemaire coaching the team, they have to be considered a favorite. But alas, Vegas has them as underdog, oh well sometimes it's better to be the underdog.
The key to the series will be goaltender Niklas Backstrom and if he can stay hot. Last year Dwayne Roloson led the Oilers (the 8 seed in the west) to the Stanley Cup finals. The last time the Wild were in the playoffs it was J.S. Giguerre who led the Ducks to the finals (also as an 8 seed). The Wild definitely have more firepower than four years ago, but goaltending will remain the key to every series from here on out.
We'll see what happens when the puck drops at 9:30 tonight. Hopefully the Timberwolves continue their pathetic play and will be off the air by 9:15.
My prediction: Wild in 5.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Easter at Pete's
Easter morning was spent with the Olichwier family in Cottage Grove for breakfast and the traditional indoor egg hunt. While the prizes inside the eggs are generally pretty small, the "Golden Egg" worth about $5, the competition for the other change is pretty intense, especially when the six contestants range in age from 32 to 24 and the total search area consists of a kitchen/dining room and living room. Unlike previous hunts, all 10 eggs were found this year and without incident.
However, There was one close call.
With eight of the eggs recovered and the hunt already about 20 minutes old, the moderators (Grandma and Dzia-Dzia) resorted to the "hot/cold" hints. This eventually led to all six hunters gathered around Pete's sofa, which had already been searched quite thoroughly. After pushing the couch away from the wall, I decided to lift it and what should appear but a tiny pink egg. Careful not to drop the couch on anybody, I was able to beat Sneaky Pete's reach and claim the egg, with a grand total of $1.40 inside it. Only one minor injury was sustained, a scraped finger (mine) that did indeed draw blood, but the egg was so worth it. The next egg was found under a toaster in the kitchen, which also had been moved and searched.
Unlike other holidays, nobody made Rat cry, there's always Memorial Day!
The other highlight of Easter at Sneaky Pete's was the ham purchased by Dzia-Dzia somewhere in the Peanut Belt of the southern U.S. While nobody is certain the ham didn't wash up along the Atlantic Coast, it was actually quite tasty, albeit a "little" salty.
However, There was one close call.
With eight of the eggs recovered and the hunt already about 20 minutes old, the moderators (Grandma and Dzia-Dzia) resorted to the "hot/cold" hints. This eventually led to all six hunters gathered around Pete's sofa, which had already been searched quite thoroughly. After pushing the couch away from the wall, I decided to lift it and what should appear but a tiny pink egg. Careful not to drop the couch on anybody, I was able to beat Sneaky Pete's reach and claim the egg, with a grand total of $1.40 inside it. Only one minor injury was sustained, a scraped finger (mine) that did indeed draw blood, but the egg was so worth it. The next egg was found under a toaster in the kitchen, which also had been moved and searched.
Unlike other holidays, nobody made Rat cry, there's always Memorial Day!
The other highlight of Easter at Sneaky Pete's was the ham purchased by Dzia-Dzia somewhere in the Peanut Belt of the southern U.S. While nobody is certain the ham didn't wash up along the Atlantic Coast, it was actually quite tasty, albeit a "little" salty.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
oops!
Since I'm pretty new at this and was trying some of the features out to see what they did. I didn't realize I didn't enable comments to be posted right away. It's fixed now.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Not what it used to be
At the start of our open house today, I was flipping through the channels and stumbled across “This Week in Baseball”. I remember in the days before ESPN and Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter, TWIB was must see TV. Mainly to see if the Twins made any of the highlights or there was a feature about any of them.
Lately, TWIB has been much harder to find on the air, as it didn’t have a particular time slot, with the assorted Saturday informercials about growing more hair or swindling people out of cash.
Since I found it, I decided to watch for the first time in ages.
Today’s episode was the first of their 30th season on the air. One of the features was a flashback to 18 years ago and one of my favorite stories they ever did, Major League Baseball going to aluminum bats and the players reaction to the news.
The thing that struck me was the aluminum bat all the players were holding was a Worth Tennessee Thumper. Thinking back on it, I remember Worth bats to be sub-par when compared to Easton’s, which is still the case.
I guess I just can’t believe it was that long ago the feature aired and not coincidentally on April 1. Overall, I was somewhat disappointed with the episode as there weren’t any TWIB notes from around the league or even player features. It was a string of highlights and bloopers mixed together from the past 30 years and a small recap on last year’s World Series, handed to the St. Louis Cardinals by the Detroit Tigers pitching staff throwing the ball into the outfield on numerous occasions. The other block of time was Randy and Jason Sklar (Cheap Seats) going over their favorite moments from 2006. Whoopee! The one bright spot was some players discussing what being clutch is. But in this era of over-inflated hitters and weak pitching, it’s tough for these guys not to be clutch. At least they didn’t try to lump A-Rod into the category of clutch players with Jeter, Big Papi and for some reason Luis Gonzalez and his bloop single to win the World Series.
That’s all for now. I’ll have more later on the Olichwier Adult Easter Egg hunt and the ensuing fights that is sure to occur. Happy Easter.
Lately, TWIB has been much harder to find on the air, as it didn’t have a particular time slot, with the assorted Saturday informercials about growing more hair or swindling people out of cash.
Since I found it, I decided to watch for the first time in ages.
Today’s episode was the first of their 30th season on the air. One of the features was a flashback to 18 years ago and one of my favorite stories they ever did, Major League Baseball going to aluminum bats and the players reaction to the news.
The thing that struck me was the aluminum bat all the players were holding was a Worth Tennessee Thumper. Thinking back on it, I remember Worth bats to be sub-par when compared to Easton’s, which is still the case.
I guess I just can’t believe it was that long ago the feature aired and not coincidentally on April 1. Overall, I was somewhat disappointed with the episode as there weren’t any TWIB notes from around the league or even player features. It was a string of highlights and bloopers mixed together from the past 30 years and a small recap on last year’s World Series, handed to the St. Louis Cardinals by the Detroit Tigers pitching staff throwing the ball into the outfield on numerous occasions. The other block of time was Randy and Jason Sklar (Cheap Seats) going over their favorite moments from 2006. Whoopee! The one bright spot was some players discussing what being clutch is. But in this era of over-inflated hitters and weak pitching, it’s tough for these guys not to be clutch. At least they didn’t try to lump A-Rod into the category of clutch players with Jeter, Big Papi and for some reason Luis Gonzalez and his bloop single to win the World Series.
That’s all for now. I’ll have more later on the Olichwier Adult Easter Egg hunt and the ensuing fights that is sure to occur. Happy Easter.
Friday, April 6, 2007
Welcome
Thought I'd try out the world of blogging. Most of the posts will be sports related as well as some updates on the wonderful world of trying to sell a townhouse in a saturated market and other family related notes. Most of the sports posts will be regarding the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Wild, University of Minnesota sports (well football, basketball and hockey) and of course the Chicago Bears (I can't stand the Vikings). Anyway, more to come later.
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