Good Day, SBG readers. SBG had hoped to present to you the 2004 Twins Analyzer with regard to a certain left-handed arbitration eligible outfielder who recently signed a one year deal with the Twins, much to the chagrin of SBG. But, Alas and Alack! This will not happen tonight (SBG did promise it either tonight or tomorrow).

Instead, SBG readers will be treated to a series of Short Hops -- SBG's take on various topics of the day.

Item #1: Sosa to Orioles
It appears for all intents and purposes that Sammy Sosa will be a Baltimore Oriole. SBG discussed Sammy during the 2004 season and concluded that Mr. Sosa is definitely fading, and in SBG's opinion, fading fast. It would have seemed absolutely inconceivable as recently as 2001 that the Cubs would dump Sosa in the manner that they apparently will.

Starting with his MVP season of 1998, Sosa hit 66, 63, 50, and 64 home runs, one of if not the greatest four year homerun stretch in all of history (this is not too hard to figure out, but SBG is pressed for time tonight so, no research, sorry!). At that time, Sosa had 450 career homeruns after his 32 year old season. If Sosa could average "just" 40 home runs a season for eight years - through his 40 year old season - he would hit 770 home runs, eclipsing big Henry. That seemed to be a foregone conclusion. It seemed more likely that he would average 45-50 home runs, at least, which would have put him between 810 and 850 home runs, with an outside shot at 900 home runs. Now, SBG realizes that this is probably a little absurd, but consider, Sosa averaged 61 home runs over that stretch -- so it isn't that hard to contemplate another eight years at 50 per.

My how things have changed. Sosa's performance has markedly declined. (Check the link above for SBG's theory why.) He's been injured -- remember, a sneeze put him on the DL. He's been disgraced by his corked bat incident. He's been revealed to be a clubhouse problem. And whispers are out there that Sosa's proclamation in 1998 that the only thing he ingested to help his performance was Flintstone vitamins might not have been the truth (actually, Sosa was a known Creatine user at the time of that inane statement).

SBG supposed that is not inconceivable that the Cubs would part ways at some point, but consider the details. The Cubs got very little in return: an 28-year old outfielder with a career .705 OPS and two prospects. In addition, the Cubs will pay $12 million of Sosa's 2005 salary and his $4.5 million buyout in 2006. Yowsa! The Cubs have paid the Orioles $16.5 million to take him off their hands! It is likely that the Orioles will extend Sosa's contract, but good golly, the Cubs have paid Baltimore a ton of money to take one of the greatest home run hitters in history off their hands!

Full disclosure: SBG used to be partial to the Cubs and made annual trips to Chicago to see the Cubs in Wrigley Field. It was when Sosa took over the team that he stopped his rooting interest in the Cubs. Perhaps, SBG will meet up with his old college bud Leo in Chicago this summer for a game on the Northside.

Item #2: Larry Brown to NY?
Larry, are you out of your mind? On the surface (and below the surface), the situation in Detroit is so much better than it is in NY. The Pistons, while struggling this year are the defending champs, they're young and they have a solid roster. The NY Knicks suck. They are hopelessly over the cap, they don't have any talent (except of course for Stephon Marbury). Plus, as Chad Ford (a great NBA writer, by the way) wrote on ESPN.COM last week, Marbury's track record is not good. Every situation he's left has improved immediately after he left. Hello Phoenix! Larry, do you really want to coach another point guard who's not going to listen to you?

Item #3: T.O. in the Super Bowl
SBG doesn't think it's going to matter whether T.O. plays. Why? Because SBG thinks that T.O. will be ineffective if he does play because he would play injured. Of course, SBG realized that T.O. never met a spotlight he didn't like, and so be it. The Eagles can win without him (not that SBG thinks they will) but he won't be a difference maker. It's nice hype in the long two weeks before the SuperDuper Bowl.

Item #4: Should Flip be Fired?
Cheesehead Craig, a regular reader and the writer of Oracle of Cheese, postulates that perhaps it's time for Flip Saunders to be fired. Flip's been the coach of the Timberwolves since part way through KG's first season and has been the only coach of the Wolves through the good times. But, now, Flip has a team that is clearly underperforming (or at least is with respect to last year's team). SBG has pointed out what he thinks are the problems on the floor: no perimeter defense, no center, and the inability to stop the drive on defense and an unwillingness to run the offense through KG enough. The problems in the lockerroom appear to be a primarily disinterested Sprewell and a whole host of guys unwilling to change their games to address the problems listed above.

At some point, this has to become responsibility of: (1) the star player or (2) the coach. Jim Souhan wrote a very good article about the T-Wolves problems, stating what SBG has believed for a while: that the Wolves problem is not enough good players, not too many. Souhan takes a gentle swipe at KG, too, saying: "The defending MVP isn't the problem, but when you're at his level of pay and prestige, you're supposed to be the solution. He hasn't been." SBG doesn't have a lot of negatives to say about KG's game on the floor this year. SBG has complained about the lack of shots, yes, but he sees that as a function of the way the team has played -- too many guys looking for their own shots instead of feeding the ball to KG. (Reminds one of the problems in LA the last several years.) However, KG should be giving some of his teammates the Rick Rickert treatment off the floor until they start getting him the ball in the post early in the shot clock. It is here where SBG has a bone to pick with KG. And he's not sure if it's a valid point or not.

More importantly, however, it is Flip who should see that this happens. Souhan advocates an eight man rotation and SBG agrees. Flip should use minutes to take control of this team. If he doesn't start sitting guys, then yes, he should be fired.

Item #5: Should the Twins Apologize?
Bat-Girl has opined that the Twins should apologize to the fans for the strike, the crappy teams of the nineties, and the contraction boondoggle. If the Twins did that, she writes, fans will come back to the Metrodome to watch games. SBG disagrees. The fact of the matter is, the fans did come back when the team started winning. And more fans would come to games if they had a new stadium, had more exciting pennant races, and had more games against teams that weren't located in Kansas City, Cleveland, and Detroit. Twins viewship on TV is at an all-time high. The payroll, while not great, is at least not on the bottom. And the Twins have done an excellent job of developing young talent and parting ways with players at the right time (Jacque Jones and Luis Rivas being exceptions). Apparently, the crowds at Twins Fest were very big.

And, just for the record, the Twins have had attendance problems prior to the post strike shenanigans. Yes, they had good attendance when they were winning World Championships. But SBG remembers a nearly empty Metrodome being the norm back in the early to mid eighties and chronically sparse crowds in the seventies. Just win baby. Just make it exciting. Just play exciting teams. Just build a new stadium. They will come. They will most definitely come.

Item #6: SBG Homeboy Reunion
SBG will be meeting up with a couple of his ND homeboys Wednesday night. Beaner, previously mentioned on these pages will be in town and SBG and Gary, Jr. will meet with Beaner to eat, drink, and talk smart. It should be fun! P.S. don't expect a huge column on Thursday!

Item #7: Pepper!
Friends, do not miss Pepper! this Friday! SBG has a special guest lined up to try and limit his thoughts to 50 words per topic! The topics are being formulated, the guest is ready, be here Friday for more of your favorite regular feature of SBG, the website!

That's all the frivolity SBG can muster tonight! Happy February, everyone!

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