Live from Kansas City
Posted on October 26th, 2007 – 5:02 PMBy La Velle
That’s right. I’m in town to hang out with some old friends. Don’t worry, Joe C. is on the clock in case there’s some, `real,’ news to report. Things are covered.
Anyway, one of the reasons I’m down here is for our annual fantasy basketball draft. The league began in the early 1990’s. Many of us have departed for other papers - the Strib, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, etc. - but we’ve used the league to keep in touch through the years.
I’m the co-owner of a team called, `The Fabricators of Funk.’ We have the first overall pick, then the order reverses so we have picks 24 and 25.
I know many of you are in hoops leagues. I know who we’re taking No. 1, but I’m looking for suggestions on who’s worthy for those 24th and 25 picks which will be huge (Luol Deng? Al Jefferson? Darren Williams? Dwight Howard?) What are your thoughts?
Oh, is this a baseball blog? The Boston Red Sox are the 2007 World Series champions. The title will be confirmed by Wednesday. I’m confident both Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva will negotiate with other teams during the offseason instead of accepting offers from the Twins because the offers won’t be enough to persuade them to sign, meaning the Twins will have to battle with other teams to keep them. There, I’ve talked baseball. Now help me…..
25 Responses to "Live from Kansas City"
Torii will sign with a large market team that can provide him with the high dollar, long term contract he truly deserves. Too risky for the Tiny Town Twins to gamble on an old player like Hunter.
There is still hope for Silva staying. Once it is certain Hunter has has left our dimly lit hamlet for the bright lights of the big city, the Twins will throw some higher denomination currency at Carlos.
marcus giles has been released, twins should make a play
The report named former Twin, Luis Orlando Rodriguez as one of the candidates for 2B. He would certainly be an upgrade over Giles.
agreed.. giles should be given a serious look..
Well, it depends on the scoring system in the league, but my advice is hope one of the good centers drops to you(Bosh, Camby, Boozer). The last couple years I’ve done really well with Camby dropping late in the second round and he has managed to stay healthy.
If not, Vince Carter seems to be underrated now and could slip to that spot and probably qualifies for two positions. Slacking on D and hoisting up needless 3’s doesn’t hurt much in fantasy hoops.
My $.02
Slip me a note in email and let me know who you’re taking #1, I assume you don’t want it to be public information. Ticket?, Marion? ‘Bron? I wonder if KG’s overall fantasy numbers will be better just because he won’t be asked to score as much in Boston. Although, he may not have to play 40 minutes a game either…
Good Luck!
I love the idea of going after Marcus Giles!!! He would be an awesome number 2 hitter, solid doubles, adequate defense, and his name isn’t Nick (I am the worst hitter of the 21st Century, and most of the 20th Century) Punto.
Let Hunter go, then trade Santana… without Hunter this team is shot because Pohlad is too cheap to spend any money for real ball players.
He has enough money he could buy every single thing that this team needs, but he’d rather be putting millions into the coffers of politicians, and buying Hip Hop radio stations.
But this team could retool itself and give the young hitters a chance.
The money that would be saved by letting Hunter go, and by trading Santana… The Red Sox are out of the question now without getting Lester, and Elsburry as the main cogs out of that deal then they don’t need to be considered, but maybe the Dodgers???
3B LaRoche, CF Abreu or LF Kemp, and a AA pitcher for Santana,
Also Pedro Feliz, or the Japanese 3rd baseman from the Devil Rays should both be available.
Corey Patterson, or slum and go for Mike Cameron to fill the hole for a season or two.
As for your picks. Al Horford and Chris Bosh.
The Twins have already offered to pay Torii $15M next year as the first year of a deal, or around there, which means if he doesn’t sign, they will have that money to go after someone else. Just because the Twins don’t sign Torii, doesn’t mean they can’t go get someone else. Bill Smith has already said the payroll budget will go up next year, so the money is there. The sticking point with Torii is years. The Twins aren’t sure they want to be paying Torii a whole lot of money when he’s 36 or 37.
If Torii doesn’t sign, I’m sure an extension for Johan will soon follow. I can’t imagine the Twins allowing both Torii and Johan to leave after getting the new ballpark started. That would be a PR disaster.
Well with reference to a few leagues I’m in, Dwight Howard is being taken anywhere from #1-5 in the first round in 3 of the 4 leagues (the other he was the 8th pick).
So I don’t think he’ll be around in the 2nd.
But perhaps Allen Iverson will be available (I got him in the late 2nd round) and also Paul Pierce, Tracy McGrady and perhaps Tim Duncan will be available as well.
Obviously the 1st pick kind of puts you in a bind for the other rounds.
But if you can get a guy like KG or Kobe and #1, and either Iverson or Duncan at #24-25, that’d be a good start.
In response to another posters thoughts, I like Al Horford, but he’ll be available in the later rounds. And another rookie to look out for is Al Thorton from the Clippers. I’m predicting that either he or Horford snatch the ROY Award from Durant since I see Durant having problems staying healthy with his frail physique.
Just my opinion.
But good luck with the draft. If you’re looking at doing a league with a bunch of friends for a number of years, keeper leagues are pretty fun.
Just a suggestion.
Oh the fans are P.O’d at how cheap Carl Pohlad is.
There is a reason why I call the stadium the Golden Pyramid. It’s because Carl’s trying to take all of his gold with him to the afterworld.
With the money they could save by letting Hunter and Silva go, and trading Santana and Nathan.
The Twins can completely restock this team. It sounds insane at face value, but again, Hunter is 12-15 million saved, Santana is 12 million saved, Nathan is 6 million saved.
2 first round picks for Hunter Silva is going to be worth 2 1sts as well.
3b, 2b, CF, LF, SP,
as well as some minor league potential that the team can gain, and it would leave 15-22 million to lock up Morneau, locke up Cuddyer, and pick up a real designated hitter, and a couple of real players that can help this team.
I see what you are saying on Horford. I just look at him at a 17-10 guy as a rookie.
I am not sure AI is the player you want in the 2nd round… this guy misses 10-15 games every single year, and he keeps getting older, and he sure as heck ain’t getting any bigger. Shaq would be available around that time too, and I’d take the double double over 30 points if he plays. I might take Ben Gordon over AI at this stage in the game.
I just don’t see Deng being there at the end of the 1st round. With all the hype around him lately, and you all being in the news, it’s going to be hard to pull that one that late.
Maybe Carlos Boozer and McGrady at those picks?
Shawn, I didn’t intend to be dismissive of your point. You are correct, Giles deserves a look by the Twins.
Are you guys talking about that stupid game that requires no intelligence or strategy? Let’s see, you throw the ball into a bucket. Ha-ha! A game can’t get any dumber than that!
um, what’s this basketball garbage you speak of ?
I heard about it once, quite a while ago. Not sure it still exists.
LEN3, who cares who you pick. It can barely be considered a sport, the talent pool in this pretend sport is awful. Just take a King, Mav, or Celtic and you should be ok I’m guessing.
Take BIG AL JEFFERSON!
I’m pretty confident that he is going to be a very good player this season. He’s been a beast this preseason.
I agree with others that Boozer should have another solid year. If you are looking at taking a guy with some upside, I would go with either Iguodala or Gerald Wallace. Wallace should see even more minutes with Morrison out for the year. Also PG’s are huge and I would look hard at Deron Williams, it kind of depends on how your league is set up and who you take at #1. I am assuming it is a really tall guy that wears green! Good Luck and fill us in on who you get!!!!
If Jefferson is still available at #24, TAKE HIM. That’s a steal. He’s going to put up buko numbers this year.
It’s too bad the Twins didn’t trade Hunter before or during the season. I would much rather have minor league players than draft picks.
They need to lock up their players long term or trade them before the last year of their contract. Don’t make the same mistake with Johan. Either sign him to a long term deal now or trade him.
I think the some of the Timberwolves could have some good value in the draft. Someone on this team will have to put up some stats.
La Velle, where do you go for good bbq in Kansas City? There are so many to choose from. I was there last weekend and went to Jack Stack.
Here’s the problem with taking Jefferson that high. He will score, get rebounds, and have a good FG %, but he doesn’t do much else. His Free Throw % is pretty bad and for a guy his size he doesn’t block a lot of shots. And you might as well forget about assists. I think he is a little overrated for fantasy purposes this year.
MLBtraderumors.com it appears the twins are very interested in Jason Bay…
except it hinges on the twins retaining hunter
The biggest reason the Twins don’t trade away players instead of letting them go to free agency, is that no one offers anything of value.
No team in baseball has much depth. No team wants to give up top prospects anymore. That’s just the way it is. Draft picks are better than marginal class A or AA players.
I agree jama, and unless the Wolves have some consistant outside shooting he will probably get a lot of attention in the post.
Just say no to Giles. The Giles’ brothers are well-known roiders. I don’t want to touch that.
La Velle, wish I could help you. It really all depends on league format, but any of Gerald Wallace/Josh Howard/Luol Deng are excellent choices if they’re there. Main thing in general is to get quality big men early (because there’s not many of them) and swing guys that can “do it all.” Guards are easier to come by.
How would anybody feel about trading Johan to the Red Sox for Ellsbury & Youkilis? That’s alot for the Sox to give up but they’d be getting a great pitcher in exchange.
Just because the Twins don’t sign Torii, doesn’t mean they can’t go get someone else.
Winning teams get the pick of the best free agents, not teams that look like they are rebuilding. Without Hunter, the Twins are a team with one veteran starting pitcher and holes at second base, third base and center field. Not to mention being at least one other bat short.
You have to stop looking at lists of potential free agents and start looking at who will still be available after the competitive teams have made their choices. With Hunter and Silva resigned, the Twins might be able to add a top notch third baseman or DH. Without them, those guys will choose to go elsewhere. And the Twins will have to spend the cash they save to entice those second or third tier free agents who have to settle for whatever team that will pay them the most.
Batting average and getting on base seem to have the most direct correlation to runs scored.
Losing Hunter’s .271 career BA and .324 career OBP is not going to have much of an impact on this team. The RBI and Runs Scored will just get picked up throughout the lineup. Too many K’s and GDP from this player as well.
If the team can field a player that hits maybe .260 and who can run and catch the ball, Hunter will hardly be missed at all.
The hand-wringing over losing this player needs to stop. The Twins have players who can replace him with no or negligible negative impact.
The Twins have players who can replace him with no or negligible negative impact.
LEN3 asked about fantasy basketball, that comment is fantasy baseball.
