NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft-Minnesota Vikings Draft Grade

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup, grading the 2012 NFL Draft for the Minnesota Vikings.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=25289

The 1987 Minnesota Twins: The Pitching Staff

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Minnesota Twins World Series-winning team in 1987, I am taking a closer look at specific areas of the team. In this first post, I will take a look at the pitching staff, starting with the starting rotation.
Note: Stats shown are regular season stats


The Starters


1. Frank Viola (17-10, 2.90 ERA, 36 starts-251.2 innings)
2. Bert Blyleven (15-12, 4.01 ERA, 37 starts-267 innings)
3. Les Straker (8-10, 4.37 ERA, 31 appearances (26 starts)-154.1 innings)
4. Mike Smithson (4-7, 5.94 ERA, 21 appearances (20 starts)-109 innings)
5. Joe Niekro (4-9, 6.26 ERA, 19 appearances, 18 starts-96.1 innings)


Others Who Started Regular Season Games (with number of starts): Steve Carlton (7), Mark Portugal (7), Juan Berenguer (6), Allan Anderson (2), Roy Smith (1), Jeff Bittiger (1), Dan Schatzeder (1)


Notes: -This rotation was clearly led by Viola and Blyleven, who pitched seven and eight complete games respectively. Otherwise, not much to see here.


-It is notable that Carlton and Niekro, both toward the end of their careers and in Carlton's case a Hall of Fame career, made starts for the Twins in 1987.


-Berenguer, who is best remembered for his work out of the bullpen, made six starts in 1987 and had a 2.92 ERA while pitching at least six innings in five of those outings. He did not start a game after June 27.


-Blyleven would top 200 innings in each of the next three seasons (two with the Twins), and finally earned a well-deserved induction into the Hall of Fame in 2011.


The Bullpen


1. Jeff Reardon (8-8, 4.48 ERA, 31 saves-63 apperances)
2. Juan Berenguer (8-1, 3.94 ERA-47 appearances (6 starts))
3. George Frazier (5-5, 4.98 ERA, 54 appearances-81.1 innings)
4. Keith Atherton (7-5, 4.54 ERA, 59 appearances-79.1 innings)
5. Dan Schatzeder (3-1, 6.39 ERA, 30 appearances (1 start)


Notes: -Reardon and Berenguer were clearly the most recognizable names here, but Frazier and Atherton also made plenty of appearances in less glamorous roles.


Other Notables


1. Steve Carlton (1-5, 6.70 ERA, 9 appearances-7 starts)
2. Mark Portugal (1-3, 7.77 ERA, 13 appearance-7 starts)
3. Joe Klink (0-1, 6.65 ERA, 12 appearances)
4. Allan Anderson (1-0, 10.95 ERA, 4 appearances-2 starts)
5. Roy Smith (1-0, 4.96 ERA, 7 appearances-1 start)
6. Jeff Bittiger (1-0, 5.40 ERA, 3 appearances, 1 start)
7. Randy Niemann (1-0, 8.44 ERA, 6 appearances)


-It is worth noting that Viola carried his momentum from 1987 into 1988, when he won the American League Cy Young Award with a 24-7 record along with a 2.64 ERA over 35 starts (255.1 innings) as he pitched seven complete games for a third straight season.


-Anderson would start at least 30 games in each of the next three seasons for the Twins, higlighted by leading the American League in ERA (2.45) in 1988 and winning a combined 33 games in 1988 and 1989.


-Portugal would have better seasons later in his career, particularly with the Houston Astros, highlighted by going 18-4 with a 2.77 ERA for the Astros in 1993.

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Midwestern State OG Amini Silatolu

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup.com, taking a closer look at one of the top small school prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft, Midwestern State (TX) offensive guard Amini Silatolu.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=24589

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-California WR Marvin Jones

Here is my most recent post at NFL Soup, looking at California wide receiver Marvin Jones as an NFL Draft prospect.


Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=24443

Fantasy Daddy.com: Fantasy Baseball-Buy/Sell Pitchers-4/24/12

Here is this week's edition of my fantasy baseball "Buy And Sell" for pitchers, featured at Fantasy Daddy.com.
Link: http://www.fantasydaddy.com/baseball/buy-and-sell/748-fantasy-baseball-buysell-pitchers-42412.html

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft Prospects From The SEC

Here is my latest post at Football Nation, looking at the 2012 NFL Draft prospects coming out of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). 
Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/2012-nfl-draft-sec-is-again-an-nfl-factory/14438/

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Wake Forest WR Chris Givens

Here is most recent piece featured at NFL Soup.com, looking at Wake Forest wide receiver Chris Givens as a 2012 NFL Draft prospect.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=24348

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Utah State RB Robert Turbin

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup, a scouting report on Utah State running back Robert Turbin as the 2012 NFL Draft approaches this week.
Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=24371

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Notre Dame S Harrison Smith

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup.com, looking at Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith as an NFL prospect.

Link: ttp://nflsoup.com/?p=24178

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup, looking at San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley as an NFL Draft prospect.
Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=24188

Football Nation.com: Minnesota Vikings All-Time Best Draft Picks

Here is my most recent post at Football Nation.com, taking a look at the best draft picks in Minnesota Vikings history.

Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/minnesota-vikings-randy-moss-among-all-time-best-draft-picks/14377/

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-LSU DT Michael Brockers

Here is my latest piece for Football Nation, looking at LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers as a 2012 NFL Draft prospect.

Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/2012-nfl-draft-michael-brockers-scouting-report/14376/

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Team Needs-St. Louis Rams

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup, looking at some of the needs the St. Louis Rams may look to fill in the 2012 NFL Draft. 

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=24043

Fantasy Daddy.com: Buy And Sell-Pitchers-4/17/12

Here is this week's edition of my fantasy baseball "Buy And Sell" for pitchers, featured at Fantasy Daddy.

Link: http://www.fantasydaddy.com/baseball/buy-and-sell/742-fantasy-baseball-buy-and-sell-pitchers-41712.html

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft-Detroit Lions Targeting A RB On Day 2?

This is my latest post at NFL Soup.com, looking at some running backs the Detroit Lions may have on their radar in the middle rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23876

Football Nation: 2012 NFL Draft-Potential 3rd Round Steal-Wisconsin WR Nick Toon

Here is my latest post for Football Nation, looking at Wisconsin wide receiver Nick Toon as a potential draft steal.
Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/potential-third-round-steal-wr-nick-toon/14306/

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Georgia TE Orson Charles

My latest post at NFL Soup.com, looking at Georgia tight end Orson Charles as a NFL prospect.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23852

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Syracuse DE Chandler Jones

Here is my most recent post at NFL Soup, a scouting report on Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones, who has become one of the fast rising prospects as we get closer to the 2012 NFL Draft.
Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23807

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Temple RB Bernard Pierce

Here is my latest post for NFL Soup, looking at Temple running back Bernard Pierce as an NFL Draft prospect.


Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23747

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft-Undervalued Cornerbacks

Here is my latest post at Football Nation.com, looking at some cornerbacks that could fly under the radar in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/2012-nfl-draft-undervalued-cornerbacks/14281/

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Memphis DT Dontari Poe

Here is my latest piece for NFL Soup, looking at one of the players who has risen up NFL Draft boards during the pre-draft process, Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe.

Link:  http://nflsoup.com/?p=23697

Football Nation.com: New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton's Suspension-Fantasy Football Impact

Here is my latest post at Football Nation, looking at how the season-long suspension of New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton could impact the team's offense from a fantasy football perspective.

Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/fantasy-football-impact-sean-paytons-suspension/14268/

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Team Needs-San Diego Chargers

Here is my latest post for NFL Soup, looking at the roster needs the San Diego Chargers may address in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Link:  http://nflsoup.com/?p=23618

Fantasy Daddy.com: Buy And Sell-Pitchers

Here is the 2012 debut of my weekly fantasy baseball "Buy And Sell" piece for Fantasy Daddy.com, focusing on pitchers.

Link: http://www.fantasydaddy.com/baseball/buy-and-sell/738-buy-and-sell-pitchers-41012.html

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler

Here is my latest post for NFL Soup.com, taking a look at Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler as an NFL Draft prospect.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23504

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Boise State QB Kellen Moore

To kick of your Monday, here is my latest post at NFL Soup, looking at Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore as an NFL prospect.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23480

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Team Needs-Green Bay Packers

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup, looking at the roster needs the Green Bay Packers may address in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23473

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Team Needs-Dallas Cowboys

Here is my latest post at NFL Soup.com, looking at the needs facing the Dallas Cowboys as the 2012 NFL Draft approaches.
Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23431

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft Prospects-Big Ten Conference

Here is my latest post at Football Nation, looking at the 2012 NFL Draft prospects out of the Big Ten Conference.
Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/2012-nfl-draft-is-there-any-cream-to-this-big-ten-draft-crop/14219/

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Louisiana-Lafayette TE Ladarius Green

This is my latest post at Football Nation, looking at Louisiana-Lafayette tight end Ladarius Green, one of the more noteworthy small school prospects in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/ladarius-green-scouting-report-small-school-sensation/14201/

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-Stanford OT Jonathan Martin

Here is my latest post at Football Nation, looking at Stanford offensive tackle Jonathan Martin as an NFL Draft prospect for 2012.

Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/jonathan-martin-scouting-report/14194/

NFL Soup.com: 2012 NFL Draft Team Needs-New Orleans Saints

Here is my latest post featured at NFL Soup, looking at some roster needs the New Orleans Saints may try to address in the 2012 NFL Draft. 
Link: http://nflsoup.com/?p=23326

Football Nation.com: Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins-A Possible Second Round Steal?

Here is another post featured at Football Nation, looking at Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins as a potential second-round steal in the 2012 NFL Draft. 
Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/kirk-cousins-potential-second-round-steal/14183/

Football Nation.com: 2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report-South Carolina DE/OLB Melvin Ingram

Here is my most recent post for Football Nation, looking at South Carolina DE/OLB Melvin Ingram as an NFL Draft prospect.

Link:  http://www.footballnation.com/content/melvin-ingram-scouting-report-hot-nfl-draft-prospect/14180/

Football Nation.com: Iowa WR Marvin McNutt-A "Second Round Steal"?

My latest post at Football Nation, looking at Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt as a potential "second round steal" in the 2012 NFL Draft. 
Link: http://www.footballnation.com/content/nfl-draft-second-round-steals-wr-marvin-mcnutt/14173/