This is my blog.

Happy 6-Month Birthday to Park

Beth has a great blog here, about Park. Love it.

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month.  This story here is really hard to read and watch.  I am VERY torn about how I should feel for Anita Tedaldi and baby "d"....  Let me know your thoughts...  I will write more about National Adoption Month later.

U2 Coming to TCF Bank Stadium

July 1 or 2, 2010, TCF Bank Stadium will experience something it has never experienced and won't ever again (as long as Tim Brewster is coach).  It will be SOLD OUT, LOUD, and the people performing will exceed expectations.  While it has not been officially announced, expect July 1 or 2, 2010, to be the date U2 comes to the Twin Cities.  They will play at TCF Bank Stadium.  Get your tickets as soon as they go on sale.

Thursday's Thoughts

Here are some things I've thought a lot about this week:

• Yankee's win their 27th World Series Championship. 
• Will the Twins extend the contract of Cuddy through 2011?  They have now four business days to decide.
• Joe Mauer...
• Royce White.  I've been watching him play since 8th grade and was SO EXCITED when he signed with the U of M.  I trust Tubby Smith.  I cannot explain to you why anyone would steal from Macy's or anywhere - but especially a D-I basketball player who is just about 9 months away from making millions when White could be drafted pretty high in the June NBA draft.
• What happened at Foot Hood is just horrible.  Please continue to pray for the families and people involved. 

2009-2010 Wolves

The Wolves kick off their season tonight.  I wish I had more time to write, and I will after tonight's game, but I just wanted to throw out there that I believe they will win 18-25 games this year.  After watching them tonight, I will have a more true number of where I believe they will be.  A lot also depends on the health of K. Love and Al Jefferson.

Home

Beth, Park and I had a wonderful vacation in Phoenix.  We LOVE Phoenix.  And Park did GREAT on the plane and travels better than his dad...  We had a good time with old friends who used to live in MN (the Hintzes; first couple pictures below) as well as with friends who live in MN who came to join us (the Skoogs and 1/2 of the Lopez family).  And the U2 concert was so much fun; they really put on a good show.  Furthermore, it was 103 degrees on Saturday when we landed, and when we got home last night it was in the low 40's.... Hmm...

Here are a few pics...

 

 

Joe Mauer and The 2010 Twins

On the surface Joe Mauer and Kevin Garnett have nothing in common. However, when one looks deeper at the two, you will realize that Joe Mauer might have the same effect on Minnesota Sports that Kevin Garnett did for years.  And when I mention that, I am not talking about how popular they are in the MN Sports sence.

Joe Christensen had an article today's paper that stated the the projected 25-man roster for 2010 would be just shy of $80 million dollars.  That's with Joe Mauer making his scheduled $12.5 million next season. There have been talks among people who know the Twins very well that once in Target Field for a season or two the payroll budget could move close to $100 million.  

Now that I have laid out a few points let me tell you how Joe Mauer and Kevin Garnett are closely related. Joe Mauer is coming a free agent at the end of the 2010 season. Some have said that he could command up towards $22 million a season.  If the Twins want to keep Target Field even close to full past the 2010, they will sign Mauer to a huge contract here soon.  (I have heard $165 over 7 years could be offered this off season).  

Let's do some basic math there. If the payroll budget is $80 million and that is with Mauer making $12.5 million and they give him a raise to even $17.5 million next season (2010), that puts the payroll at $85 million.  How in the world are the Twins going to sign anyone for next season?  Where's the money coming from?  

Let's look towards 2011 and beyond.  Cuddy is set to make $10.5 million in 2011-an option that needs to be picked up by the Twins within five days of the the 2009 World Series ending.  So let's say the Twins give Mauer $20 million starting in 2011, that's an extra $2.5 from the projected $17.5 million, plus the addition of Cuddy's increase, plus Morneau's increase, plus Baker and list goes on.  You can quickly see that this situation leaves in the MN Twins in a tough position.  IF and it's a BIG IF, the payroll for 2011 is REALLY $100 and Mauer gets $20 million, do the quick math-one player gets 20% of the ENTIRE budget. WOW.  How can the Twins do ANYTHING to improve a team that CLEARLY has needs it must address if there's no money?

I debated over Facebook, with a friend yesterday that the Twins are pretty much stuck.  He insisted that once they are in Target Field they will spend the money to sign free agents and begin to keep players that in the past we had lost (Hunter, Santana).  However, IF Mauer gets this deal of around $20 million I don't see how this is even possible unless the Twins unload some of their big contracts.  

Remember when Garnett signed his $26 million dollar a year contract?  It basically ruined the Timberwolves for years because they were stuck with Garnett and a bunch of average players.  I am all for signing Joe Mauer to a new contract.  I have said many times, I will turn in my season tickets if Mauer isn't a MN Twin. However, I have also come to conclude that the 2009 MN Twins will be as good as it gets because of their payroll situation.  

Phil Cuzzi

What is wrong with Phil Cuzzi? We all make mistakes, however some should be fired when they make these sort of mistakes. This was his ONE and ONLY job-to make these types of calls and he 100% missed it....

I almost forgot...

With all the excitement of the MN Twins going to the playoffs and the Packers looking like a 6th grade team, I almost forgot to tell everyone that PARK made it to the TOP 10 in the Startribune Photo Contest!!!!

Voting ends on Sunday, October 11, 2009 and you can VOTE ONCE per HOUR.  So, if you're bored this week or just LOVE CUTE Park, please vote.  Park's picture is on the right, about half way down. Since there's only 10 picture, it's pretty clear which one is Park...

Here is the link again.  

Thoughts from the Dome

Wow. I have a lot of thoughts about the Twins game tonight. It has been an exciting four days in the Twin Cities. I was at the dome Saturday, Sunday and tonight. I almost went to the Vikings game too but like I always have said football is 100 times better in person.

I joined 55,088 people to set a regular season game attendance record tonight and sae an epic game. Amazing. Here is something interesting: on Sept 7, we were 7 games back from the Tigers. Also, not since 1901 has a team lost a 3 game lead with 4 to go-the Tigers now join them.

If you are going to be hard on people when they make poor moves, you must give them credit. I credit Billy Smith for getting OC and Carl P. Two guys that have helped us a ton. I was wrong about those guys in the short term.

Joe Mauer wrapped up his third batting title and he should be vpted MVP now too. I look at his numbers for the season and i am just stunned. However, I watch him play and I am even more amazed.