SI's John Donovan picks the Twins to Four Peat this year, thanks to the big signing of one Mr. Johan Santana:
In the American League Central, payrolls are prim and proper and owners are skinflint-types reminiscent of the good old days. That's where the Twins are the champions, tops among the tightwads, first-class frugals....The sudden largesse is probably needed for the Twins to stay atop the division. The Indians are in the fourth year of a five-year rebuilding program and just missed the .500 mark last season after an exciting summer. The White Sox revamped a team that won 83 games in '04. They could challenge again. The Tigers are comers and they, too, broke open the checkbook, most notably with a $75 million deal to get former White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez. Only the struggling Royals seem out of chances in this division.
Meanwhile, AP sings the praises of our own LeRoy. Despite the fact that there's no actual position for him on the team, he's not going anywhere.
He began last spring as the full-time designated hitter, but a pulled muscle on the right side of his rib cage suffered in the first week of the season kept him out for a month. That opened the door at DH for Lew Ford - or Shannon Stewart if Ford was filling in for him in left field. Veteran Jose Offerman also got 33 starts at designated hitter.Posted by Batgirl at February 24, 2005 10:55 AMNow LeCroy will find himself giving Justin Morneau breaks at first, Ford at DH and perhaps Mauer - on occasion - at catcher. He knows his role is in relief, and as a leader.
"I think he's done very well for himself," Gardenhire said. "On the bench, you started seeing it. He was getting himself ready and other guys ready. I kind of look at it like that now. Guys look up to him. That's pretty neat. It's not every day you have guys looking up to you."
Cool, always wanted to be the first to post. Umm, let's see. Who to thank? I guess my bosses, first of all, for not monitoring my internet usage. Then El Presidente for helping me to win all my fantasy leagues last year. Lastly to Batgirl and the Batgirl community for entertaining and educating me on a daily basis.
Lastly, to YankeeFan, damn you. I'm waiting for BP2005, and waiting, and waiting.
Jealously,
cubsfan36
cubby,
Please do not diplace your jealousy in my direction. While Gardy is correct in saying that having people look up to you is pretty neat, the entire quote was taken from the ESPN.com Daily Quickie, and thus it is Dan Shanoff who received his Baseball Prospectus yesterday and, sadly, not I.
YankeeFan
Donovan's article was very nice and I largely agree, but am I the only one who thinks that everybody is looking past the Twins' offense too quickly? Stewart, Ford, Mauer, Morneau, Hunter, Jones, Cuddyer, Shortstop-to-be-named-later, Rivas.
Especially looking at the first five, that could pack a punch.
Posted by: BadAndy48 at February 24, 2005 12:27 PMFinally some deserved recognition for the oft-maligned Mr LeCroy, who after the departure of Dougie Baseball has served me well pinch-hitting as my Favorite Twins Player. There's nothing quite like a guy who knows his role and does it well! Rock on, big Matthew.
Posted by: Kate O. at February 24, 2005 12:44 PMLargesse? I don't trust anyone who uses fancy book-learning french words like "largesse".
"LeCroy" is a good french word, but only because Matthew's ancestors decided to drop the fancy "oix" and replace it with a simple "oy". "LeCroix" just would not look right on the back of Matthew's XXXL bug-juice stained jersey.
Posted by: NIH at February 24, 2005 12:56 PMWE LOVE YOU LEROY! Our Country Bumpkin:)
Posted by: Mic_218 at February 24, 2005 12:58 PMAnyone see the interview (must have been 2-3 seasons ago now) with Big Matt clarifying the pronounciation of Le(e)Croy? I'm sure it was on FSN (actually, probably MSN).
Something to the effect that "down where he come from", no one says LaCroix...
I find this especially funny because I do happen to have a little fancy book-learning French up my sleeve.
Posted by: Say Rah! at February 24, 2005 02:10 PMApologies, YankeeFan. Short of opening day, BP20xx release day is one of my favorite days of the year. I'm anxious.
Wonder if Shanoff will pronounce it "Best.Book.Ever"
Lordy I hate his instant history proclamations. Good writer, bad gimmick.
Posted by: cubsfan36 at February 24, 2005 03:06 PMMy favorite LeCroy moment is when he was interviewed on 'CCO after he had been to the State Fair. He said all the fried food made him feel like he was home and that he would go back again that evening. I have great respect for a man who understands the true meaning of ft. long corn dogs.
Posted by: SoftballSuperstar at February 24, 2005 03:15 PMHuh, and here I thought "LeCroix" would have been of American Indian origin....
Posted by: frightwig at February 24, 2005 03:25 PMOooh, foot long corn dogs... dang. That's a hard itch to scratch in February. There should be a law against mentioning them this time of year.
It's neat the people look up to LeRoy. Better than all the people trying to see *around* him.
As for the AL Central. I'm looking forward to a more competitive division this year. Winning is nice, but competitive baseball is better.
Posted by: mmmarkiep at February 24, 2005 04:04 PMAnd winning in a competitive division is even better.
MK
--who felt the need to spell out what mmmarkiep implied...
I am not so noble.
I hope the Twins win the division by 25 games.
I will root against the BitchSox, Indians, Royals, and LeTigres ever single night and day.
Posted by: funoka at February 24, 2005 04:36 PMLeCroy was on the sports here last night. Part of it was about how he couldn't afford tennis lessons, but played with a couple of buddy's. They wouldn't let him play baseball and tennis both in high school, so when his baseball team was eliminated in the playoffs, he joined the tennis team and won the state championship.
Posted by: insider at February 24, 2005 08:32 PMBought tickets today for the April 10 Sunday night game (a.k.a., the Cy Young Homecoming game). I'd suggest y'all do so soon if you want to go. Good seats are going fast. The best I could get in the Upper Club was Row 16, so I went for Lower Reserved instead. There is the crick-in-the-neck factor, but on the other hand, you might catch a foul ball.
Shortly afterwards, I got an email from the Cities97 with the subject line: "Santana Early On Sale." It honestly took me a second to realize they weren't talking about Johan.
Posted by: Word Smith at February 24, 2005 10:53 PMSo who were they talking about? ;)
Posted by: Pepper at February 25, 2005 09:39 AMDaily "Matthew LeCroy is fat" shot:
"It's not every day you have guys looking up to you"
-Unless you push them down because they are in your way at the buffet table.
OK, a bonus, 2 for 1 today.
Seperated at birth:
John Elway - Mr. Ed
George Bush - Alfred E. Newman
Carl Pohlad - C. Mongomery Burns
Matthew LeCroy - Eric Cartman