Random Thoughts: 8/19/09

Bill Hall to Reds?
The Journal-Sentinel reports that the Cincinnati Reds are interested in dealing for lavishly-paid infielder Bill Hall. Makes sense. Hall has killed the Reds throughout his career. Names mentioned in exchange include pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. Both are just as overpaid, and just as past their primes. Both are also light years better than Carlos Villanueva, though the same can be said for most mammals with at least one functioning arm. I'd much prefer we get Harang--he's marginally more expensive, but he's also a year younger and, most importantly, he didn't have the best years of his career on a team with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz pre-drug-testing then fall off the face of the earth. Arroyo also has admitted in the past few days to taking supplements not approved by MLB, and has reportedly been ducking calls from MLB officials about that. Where there's smoke, there's fire.

And the past few weeks, we've been getting pounded by some of the worst teams in the National League. At this point, I'll welcome any pitching help superior to the three-headed failmonster of Jeff Suppan, Villanueva, and Mike Burns--even if it is linked to sketchy supplements.

More Favre fallout
I think yesterday's inaugural post pretty much covered the emotional side of things. Today, after a day to digest the information, I'm taking a look at what the Favre signing means for all parties involved for the future.

If you ask a Viking fan, the move means that the NFC North is in the bag, and the Super Bowl is in the crosshairs. I'm not so sure. Yes, Favre represents a sizable upgrade over incumbent Tavaris Jackson. But free-agent signing Sage Rosenfels would've been as well. Do I think Rosenfels is a better quarterback than Favre? Even with Favre about to push 40, I don't think so. Do I think Rosenfels is a better fit for this Vikings team than Favre? Absolutely.

In limited playing opportunities throughout his career, Rosenfels has demonstrated some good qualities: He is a humble, grounded player. He has a ridiculously accurate passing arm. He can run an offense with success. He's not a bad scrambler. But most of all, he doesn't expect to be the focal point of the offense. He's Chad Pennington without the starting experience. And, as Miami proved a year ago, you can win with Pennington, a good ground game, and a tough defense.

My theory is this: if you boil every player down to the bare essentials, they fit into one of four categories: he brings something to the table, he takes things off the table, he doesn't bring anything to the table but he doesn't take anything off the table, or he brings something to the table but takes other things off the table. Oversimplified? Yes, but that's the point. Rosenfels is an example of the third type of player. He doesn't give your offense a whole lot in terms of weapons, but he's not going to kill you. Surrounded with a talented group of wideouts, a reliable tight end in Visanthe Shiancoe, and arguably the most exciting running back in the league since Barry Sanders, you can work with Rosenfels. Put him in charge of running the offense, staying the hell out of Purple Jesus's way, and occasionally throwing underneath to Peterson, Shiancoe, or Bernard Berrian: you've got yourself an offense that can move the ball, and won't turn it over a whole lot.

Favre, ten years ago, would've been in the first category of player. These kinds are rare--think Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, etc. Today? He's a "brings stuff, but takes stuff away" guy. He's got an arm, no question about it. But he also makes bad decisions, and turns the ball over way too much. This team needs a Rosenfels type at quarterback--someone who is comfortable being second banana to Peterson and will keep the mistakes to a minimum. Favre is not that player.

That being said: do I think the Vikings are contenders? Definitely. But a lot has to go right for them to go far this year. Favre has to be able to shelve his ego and accept a limited role without complaining, and I don't see that happening. Brad Childress has to be able to keep the locker room under control, and I don't see that happening. Over the past three years, Favre has run Mike Sherman out of Green Bay and Eric Mangini out of New York. You think he'll be able to keep his mouth shut when it comes to Childress? Just wait until Childress costs the Vikings a game they should have won--if you follow the NFC North, you know the question isn't if this will happen, but when. Wait for Favre to take some thinly-veiled shots at the coach, and wait for the mutiny to take effect. Brett's fuse has always been notoriously short for shaky coaches, especially when things don't go according to plan.

Most importantly, and most overlooked, the whole plan hinges on Adrian Peterson staying healthy all year. Remember, Peterson was far and away the most talented player in the 2007 Draft, but fell to the Vikings at #7 because of concerns about his toughness--he missed large parts of both his sophomore and junior years at Oklahoma due to injuries. So what happens if he goes down? Well, in 2005 the Packers lost Ahman Green for the year, and with only the immortal Samkon Gado to rely on, went 4-12.

If everything goes right, the Vikings are a contender. However, if everything goes right, pushing all-in at the poker table with 4-5 suited is a good bet. That's not to say it will happen. Either way, the NFC North race looks to be one of the most competitive in the NFL. Three teams could win it, and all look like contenders. Unless you live in Detroit, it should be an exciting season.

(I'll have a full preview up of every division at some point in the next few weeks. Be patient. I'm still getting this thing off the ground.)

Madden 2010
Expecting a review? Well, I can't really do that. I haven't played it yet, and I don't anticipate playing it for a while. Every since exclusive licensing gave EA Sports a monopoly on the franchise, the game has steadily gone downhill. Personally, I prefer the NCAA Football series at this point--the Dynasty Mode holds up well against Madden's Franchise Mode, the Campus Legend mode blows Madden's Gawd-awful Superstar Mode out of the water, and the NCAA mini-games are infinitely more fun owing to the fact that you don't have to repeat them ad nauseum in order to play a franchise. Add to this the ability to run an option offense (the most underratedly fun way to make your friends scream and throw their controller at the wall), and it's not even close. Now if only the NCAA would pull their heads out of their asses and license player names, we'd be ready to go.

And thanks to the economy, I'll only be pulling in one of these games this year--and even that one won't be bought until a few other things (most notably my rent check, which I need to pay in two weeks and I still can't afford) are taken care of. That being said, I get paid each time you click on one of the ads in the right-hand column. Not saying you should do anything, just mentioning that.

Quote of the Week
"If I get hit in the balls from 300 feet, I deserve it"--Ken Griffey Jr, on why he doesn't wear a cup when he plays

Two days, two long posts. This thing might stick. Let me know what you think so far.