Midyear Sports Predictions - June 2009

Chicago Cubs - It is fair to say that the Chicago Cubs have underperformed this season. They've been plagued by injuries, bullpen woes and a lack of timely hitting.   

Best Case: They right the ship, realize they are only 2.5 games down in a winnable division, get healthy and make a run into the postseason.  They get through at least one playoff season this year. 

Worst Case: They struggle throughout the year, but keep it close enough just to break the lil' Cubbie blue hearts of Cubs fans everywhere.  They spend money to sign aged vet Pedro Martinez, which flops.  And to top it all off, they end the season without completing the sale of the team from the penny pinching Tribune Company. 

Most probable: I think this team still has a reasonable shot of winning the division this season. They have the pieces, they will likely get a few parts back from the DL soon, and may add to the roster at the trade deadline.  I highly doubt they make a run at the World Series this year, and if they make another first round exit, I wonder if it isn't time to blow this team up and try to hit the reset button with some new young prospects.

Minnesota Twins - The Twins sit a few games behind Detroit in the AL Central.  

Best Case: The Twins do have a young, exciting team this season.  If they can add a bullpen arm or two to get them to All Star closer Joe Nathan, they have a chance at winning a few more games down the stretch.  Joe Mauer continues his superhuman hitting and wins both the batting title and MVP.

Worst Case: The team fades, young pitchers can't hold it together in the second half of the season and Detroit walks away with the AL Central. 

Most probable: I'd say this team has about a 50-50 shot of winning the division.  If they do make it into the postseason, they could win a series against Texas or the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but probably not the Yankees or Boston.  At they very least, there should be optimism for Twins fans - they have a young team and a new ballpark opening next season.

Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings were 10-6 last season with two very, very average quarterbacks running the offense.  This offseason, they drafted some rookies that will help right away and are looking to sign future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.  Favre is known for his cannon arm and reckless abandon on the gridiron.  For him to have success with the Vikings he will simply need to stretch the field slightly to keep defenses honest for Minnesota's already strong backfield. 

Best Case: With Favre, a record of 11-5 or a repeat of 10-6 is possible.  Don't put me in the category of Vikings fans worshiping at the alter of Brett quite yet, but I think with a healthy arm he can still play.  The Vikings would have to ask Favre to rely on the run more than he did in the first ten weeks of last season, and in this scenario Percy Harvin - the Vikings new wideout - shreds offenses forces to play up against Minnesota's potent running attack.  Without Favre, I still see as many as 9 wins.  Sidney Rice could become the red zone threat that he has shown himself capable of becoming.  Adrian Peterson could be an MVP candidate.

Worst Case: Brett Favre signs, then re-aggravates his arm and drags the team down by throwing interceptions late in the season.  Vikings lose to Packers in both games, and muster splits with Detroit and Chicago.  They miss the postseason despite sky-high preseason expectations.  

Most probable: This is tough to call.  I think they will sign Favre, boosting both TV ratings and ticket sales.  It will be a two way race for the division between the Bears and Vikings.  Though I like that scenario for the Vikings, they haven't made it to the Super Bowl since I've been alive and they've never won.  

California Golden Bears Football - California has been knocking on the glass ceiling HARD the last few seasons, but they just haven't been able to break through.  Last year they were 9-4 and were rewarded with a trip to the Emerald Bowl in which they defeated Miami in one of the highest rated mid-range bowl games last season.  But let's not pretend that fans of the Golden Bears were perfectly satisfied with the performance.  It seems like every season the Bears, led by coach Jeff Tedford, lose one game they shouldn't and fall to USC.  Pundits have also predicted Oregon to rise to the top of the Pac-10 for the past several seasons, despite falling to Cal in 2006, 2007 and 2008. 

Best Case: Cal could be a BCS bowl contender this season, but they have to limit themselves to just one or two losses - and they can't lose to both USC and Oregon.  Kevin Riley, a junior this season, should be an upgrade over graduating Nate Longshore.  Longshore, despite giving Cal fans some great memories, actually saw his completion percentage decline every season he played.  Running back Jahvid Best stays healthy all season and competes for the Heisman Trophy (something Marshawn Lynch, DeSean Jackson, et. al. couldn't quite do).  

Worst Case: Riley doesn't progress, Best gets nicked up, and the Bears lose to USC, Oregon and Minnesota getting yet another invite to the second place bowl.  

Most probable: I'm optimistic about the Golden Bears this season.  I think they take a step forward and USC takes a step back without newly minted New York Jet Mark Sanchez. The big tests will come early.  Weeks 3-6 could be fantastic or tough (at Minnesota, at Oregon, USC, then at UCLA - a possible letdown game). 

Minnesota Golden Gophers Football: 

Best Case: A repeat of last year's success.  Last year, I was hoping the Gophers would win 4 games after their dismal 2007 season.  Instead, they won 7 games last season and were rewarded with a trip to the Insight Bowl.  They drew a tough matchup in their bowl game (Kansas).  People have, for years, predicted the Gophers would wind up in the lowliest of postseason games - the Motor City Bowl.  Thankfully, they've nearly always managed to squeak into slightly more desirable bowl games.  This season, however, any bowl appearance would be a great finish to a really tough looking schedule.   

Worst Case: 4-8. I see them beating South Dakota State and Air Force for sure, after that it is anyone's guess. 

Most probable: No matter what happens to the Gophers this season on the field, they will be opening up a new stadium, bringing football back to the University of Minnesota campus. That's a plus.  Recruiting will likely improve over the next couple of seasons and the team is loaded with young talent.  

Minnesota Twins Alternate Jersey

The Minnesota Twins will be wearing an alternate third jersey this season - their last in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.  The jersey will be complimented by an alternate two-tone cap - completing the throwback uniform.  While Well Dressed Girlfriend hates two tone caps, I really like this particular cap.  

While I really like the idea of sporting throwbacks from this era, I think the Twins really should have gone with the powder blue, v-necks from Kirby Puckett's rookie season - my favorite Twins uniform.  The powder blue jersey is the one and only jersey that I can wear to any stadium in the country and get compliments from opposing fans.  

  

My Sports Bucket List

The following are the top ten sports occurrences I would like to see in my lifetime.

10. The Minnesota Timberwolves become relevant again - For about a decade, the only reason to watch the T-Wolves was a player named Kevin Garnett.  The 6 foot 11 inch forward had a presence on the court that was worth paying admission to watch.  He dominated the game.  I was glued to the tube in 2004 when Garnett, Latrell Sprewell (famous for choking one of his coaches) and Sam Cassell (famous for having a head shaped like an alien) made a deep playoff run.  Since Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics I have not watched a single NBA game from start to finish.  Shocking, I know.  I've never been a huge NBA basketball fan, but a decent team to follow would make it more interesting.  

9. Minnesota Wild win the Stanley Cup - I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a terribly invested hockey fan.  In fact, I'm probably the definition of a "bandwagon" fan. Sue me. I catch a few games throughout the year and I start watching the NHL regularly only when the playoffs begin.  Even then, I whine and complain about the playoffs lasting into the summer months. Nevertheless, the Stanley Cup is still the coolest trophy in all of sports and it would be great to watch a Minnesota team hoist it.  

8. Spring Training in Arizona - A few years back, I got a chance to see the Minnesota Twins play the Boston Red Sox in Spring Training in Florida.  My life basically hasn't been the same since. A dose of sunshine and baseball in late February and early March - what could be better? Going from red wine and cheese to beer and hotdogs with a side of suntan lotion?!  My god, I'm salivating just thinking about it.  

7. The World Baseball Classic - This international baseball tournament first took place three years ago.  My Grandfather (the year before he died), my Dad and I all got really into it. I happened to be home in Red Wing during the tournament and some of my last days with my Grandfather - who had become ill - were watching the tourny, munching on popcorn and drinking beer.  Ultimately, Japan defeated Cuba in the championship game.  I would love to watch a game in person next year when the tournament returns.  

6. I get a chance to play basketball against Barack Obama.  NO!  H-O-R-S-E.  I want to challenge Obama to a game of horse.  What can I say, the guy would no doubt kick my ass - but the commemorative DVD that the White House would give to me as a gift would make it all worthwhile.   

 

6b. The Minnesota Golden Gophers win the NCAA basketball tournament (without any subsequent major academic scandals surfacing).  

5. The Olympics in Chicago in 2016 - The city of Chicago is up for the 2016 Olympics.  While I tend to be much, much more interested in the winter olympics than the summer olympics, watching them take place in Chicago would be a huge treat.  

4. Minnesota Twins win another World Series in their new ballpark - When I was six years old, the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.  So technically, then, this is an event that has happened in my lifetime.  Unfortunately, my life has pretty much all gone downhill since that point.  After the Twinkies open up a new ballpark in 2010 - I would love to see them do it again.  Give their young pitching rotation a year or two to mature and these guys have a shot.  

3. Minnesota Vikings win the Super Bowl - Every year, I hype myself into thinking that the Vikes are going to be good this year.  Since the Randy Moss years, however, the Vikings have been middling at best.  I make time to watch every weekend, however, so I'm certainly more than a casual fan.  Three years ago, the Vikings became almost unbearable to watch.  Then, after the defense was finally able to turn it around, the team drafted rookie sensation Adrian Peterson.  Peterson has quickly become   

2. California Golden Bears go to the Rose Bowl - unlike many of the other sports occurrences I am hoping for in my lifetime, a trip to the Rose Bowl would make me happy regardless of the outcome.  Watching a college football game on New Year's Day with great interest, being a part of the Rose Bowl, being arrested in Pasadena for drunk and disorderly conduct - none of these things I've been lucky enough to do.  The last time the Bears went to the Rose Bowl was 1959. The last time they won was 1938. 

 

2b. Minnesota Golden Gophers go to the Rose Bowl - see ramblings above. Oh, and the last time Goldy made it to the Rose Bowl was 1962 (they defeated UCLA).  

1. Chicago Cubs win the World Series - In the summer of 1997, my family and I moved from the city where I was born, St. Paul, to the town where I grew up, Red Wing.  I spent the summer rollerblading - yes, rollerblading - and wishing I had friends.  After a couple of days of banal teenage angst, I discovered the Chicago Cubs on WGN.  A few years later, I moved to Chicago and spent most of my off days at Wrigley Field.  After a nearly a couple of years living on and off in Chicago, I was firmly hooked.  I now follow the Cubs with interest every year - this year probably more than ever.  It has been 100 years since the Cubs last won the World Series. Just getting to the Fall Classic is a feat they haven't accomplished since 1945.  These guys find a new way to break your heart every year.  This year offers more than a few reasons to get excited - but don't hold your breath!  

If all of these ten things happen in my lifetime, I could die a happy man.  I better putin my request to Obama's people now.  

Things noted here and there: 

I'll have an upcoming post focus on baseball divisional championship gear later this week.  The Angles have already clinched the AL West and the Cubs are on their way to . . . well, I won't say it.  Here is what the Cubs divisional championship hat looked like last year.  I might end up snagging a Majestic 2008 Central Division Champs t-shirt if it winds up happening.  

I think I'm in love with this 1939 Chattanooga Lookouts jersey.  This style of crushed hat from The Franchise has really grown on me.  Finally, this Montreal Royals jacket would make me look awesome.  Just sayin'.