matt weighs in

Well, it may have finally happened. Reports are out that the Minnesota Twins have screwed over the fans and traded Johan Santana. If it goes through, time, of course, will tell whether or not the Twins got enough in return, but I am beside myself right now.

We don’t know if any of the players coming in return will definitely be on the field opening day, and this was the one thing they needed to get – at least one proven player that could help out right away. I don’t care that he went to another league. If this is saving grace for fans to make it ok to them that Johan was traded, so be it, but it’s a smoke screen.

Maybe the Twins were in an impossible situation with Johan. Break the bank and sign him or trade him and get raked over the coals for not getting enough back. I guess Terry Ryan got out at the right time. Maybe he knew the direction the team was going in the off-season and didn’t want that to be his legacy. The Twins needed to open the new stadium in 2010 with Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter and Johan Santana. Now, 2 of those 3 are gone.

Out of everyone who was on the roster on Tuesday morning, Johan was the only one that casual fans would make a point to go to the ballpark to see. We’d look at the pitching match-ups to see when it was his turn to take the mound, and we’d make our way to the park. Only Santana could get 30,000 people into the Metrodome for a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon game.

For other reactions, read La Velle E. Neal III’s blog over on StarTribune.com or Rube Chat at KFAN’s website.

Random thoughts on the sporting world heading into the last weekend of 2007:

* Has anyone cared about the bowl games, yet? You know a playoff is needed when the biggest story, so far, is whether or not a guy on the sidelines (not even a coach, player or trainer) touched a bouncing ball before his team recovered. Even if he didn’t touch it, shouldn’t they have been penalized for all those guys being on the field, which would give the other team the ball back anyway? Apparently, Chris Jessie is the head coach’s stepson and in charge of coordinating the team’s travel and hotel reservations. And he’s on the sideline of a bowl game. Oh well. There is a BS in BCS (one of my favorite sayings, by the way).

* KG won’t let the Celtics slow down all year. I doubt they’ll match the Bulls’ 72 victories from ’95-’96, but damn, he has lit something under Paul Pierce that will carry them to a #1 seed in the East and well into June 2008. However, is it possible that KG’s current team sets the all-time win record, while his former team sets the all-time loss record? Can’t wait to see the outcome of their Feb. 8^th game at Target Center (note to Laura: that’s close to my birthday).

* NBA season has 6 months to go? Maybe thoughts on that another time, although it is now more intriguing than it has been in years. I miss “NBA on NBC” – one of my favorite lead-in tv musical anthems of all-time. I know some of you are humming it right now.

* I believe the Vikings blew their season last Sunday night at home against Washington. Win and they were in the playoffs, which no one could have foreseen after 34-0 in Lambeau. I heard the guys on KFAN’s morning show (AM-1130 in the Twin Cities) talking after the Washington game that if it had been outdoors, instead of in the ‘dome, the outcome would have been different. Really? What part of this Vikings team is so tough that playing in 18 degree, snowy weather gives us more faith in them to produce in such a huge game?

* I think the Giants will beat the Patriots, leaving the Pats 15-1 on the year. I want them to go 16-0 and win the Super Bowl (since the Vikings will be out of it, of course), but the Giants seem to do something every year to save Tom Coughlin’s job. They’ll win this game, giving them 11 wins, then won’t do much in the playoffs, but he’ll still have his job and that constipation-type pained look on his face.

* Johan’s still here, so I have hope the Twins will re-sign him. By the way, less than 2 months until pitchers and catchers report.

Happy New Year to all and to all a big drink!

How can I even compete with the content on the main page? My guess is that I won’t, so therefore shouldn’t even try. I think I’ll leave the family storytelling up to Laura, for I had typed only 4 words in my 1st post attempt, and I hear over my shoulder, “That should be on Siena’s page; plus, I was going to write about that. So be it.

Since I’m into sports, I’m sure I’ll comment (hopefully) briefly on different topics regarding the Minnesota and national sports scenes. Here goes: I really can’t believe the Twins are reportedly close to shipping Johan Santana to one of our coasts to play for a team in their own league – could be New York, Boston or Anaheim (to join the already departed Torii Hunter and I refuse to call them the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, California in the country of the United States, or whatever it is now).

I was for upping the tax $.03 for every $20 I spend on certain things, so the Twins could build a stadium, but if they don’t offer Santana 5-7 years at $20-$25 million per year, I’ll wonder what is going on over there at Kirby Puckett Place and why they didn’t bother to open the new stadium with the best pitcher and/or the best center fielder in baseball when their fans paid almost $400 million for them to have a place to play.

They’ll sell tickets, because of the newness of it all, and who wouldn’t want to watch a game outdoors rather than in the dome, but this is not looking good, and I am quite upset.

I’d rather not read or see on tv reports of any more deals for Santana that may or may not be happening this week. And I won’t even get started on how I feel about Hank Steinbrenner trying through the media to make the trade happen over the weekend. I have a feeling this isn’t going to end well, and we won’t even have a roof.