Weighing In On Cutler: John Lynch Provides Voice Of Reason

So who is he: over hyped gun slinger, man child who pouted and demanded to be traded, and who lacks leadership skills necessary to win a play off game, or....legend waiting to happen, victim of circumstances from bad NFL politics led by a 33 year old rookie head football coach and over the hill owner in Denver? Since Jay Cutler arrived in Chicago this past off season in a blockbuster trade the day after April Fools Day, perception and speculation has varied greatly depending on who you talk to and what you read...all the way from Denver Bronco message boards to rabid bear fans lighting up sports talk radio phone circuits like Christmas trees to talk Cutler. To put in Chicago perspective, bronco fans might describe Cutler as "Mark Prior post 2003", reserved and aloof, not a team player, and snubbing autograph seekers. On the other hand, some bronco fans were so upset Cutler was traded, they were reporting to give up their bronco allegiances. Meanwhile in Chicagoland, it wouldn't be surprising if fans expect Cutler to win multiple super bowls while curing Diabetes at the same time. And then there are those pictures surfacing on the Internet--of Cutler, 26 years old and single, having drinks and enjoying some of the Chicago night life in the middle of the NFL off season. Opinions vary from "no big deal" to "grow up, kid." So when weighing in on Cutler, who can give us a straight answer?

Those following the situation may want to defer to John Lynch, a former all pro safety for the Tampa Bay Bucs and Denver Broncos, who played in 9 pro bowls and has one super bowl ring from his days with the bucs. As good as Lynch was as a player, he may be more widely known for being a great guy both on and off the field. During his college days at Stanford, Lynch began his career as a quarterback, but sustained critical injuries that forced him out of the position. While a lot of college kids would have thrown in the towel, Lynch persevered and learned an entirely new position in the defensive backfield. As a perennial all-pro and one of the NFL's most feared tacklers, Lynch was nominated as a finalist for the NFL Walter Payton man of the year award multiple times. Lynch, who is married and has 4 children, also runs a notable foundation (johnlynchfoundation.org) promoting and recognizing leadership skills among today's youth. 

Lynch's thoughts on Jay Cutler are insightful for a host of reasons: he played with Cutler during his time with the broncos, his background gives him credible perspective, and he understands what it takes to be a leader on and off the football field. In the middle of July, Lynch was interviewed on ESPN Chicago radio, and here is what he had to say when asked about his former teammate Jay Cutler:  

"I like Jay, he's a friend of mine,...He had some growing up to do, probably still has some growing up to do. But in saying that, I think the Broncos erred in letting him go.

"This is a guy, in my mind, that's a once-in-every-15-year-type talent. He's got that kind of skill. I think he'll grow into the other things. I sometimes think during this whole ordeal, they tried to paint him as a bad guy, but he's not a bad guy at all. He's got some growing up to do, but hopefully he learned something from this whole ordeal and offseason."

"I think he's very reserved and to himself, and that's fine...I think sometimes it's just the way -- I hate to put it on this -- but sometimes the new generation. They just don't understand things that you think everyone should understand. I think he wants to learn. I think he's reached out to people trying to learn, and I think he will because as I said, once you get to know him on a one-on-one basis, he's by no means a bad person or a bad teammate. He's just, as I mentioned, got some things to grow up in."

So there you have it. Sounds like good news for bears fans....based on what Lynch is saying. For right now, I'll take his word.  

The following sources contributed to this post:

http://johnlynchfoundation.org/john-lynch-foundation.aspx

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4336504

http://nwe.scout.com/a.z?s=121&p=8&c=1&nid=3902925

Twins Leaving The Metrodome Doesn't Make A Lot Of Sense

Some things in sports don't make much sense. "Utah Jazz", 11 teams in the Big Ten--these things don't seem to make sense. So when the twins say goodbye to the metrodome at the end of the season to move into the outdoor Target Field next year, I'll add that to my list of things in sports that don't make much sense. 

 From most reports, locals in the twin cities are excited to get out of the dome and finally see baseball in the sun. The proposed Target Field will also help generate extra revenue for the twins--a successful and winning team over the years despite playing in a smaller market. But how successful will the twins continue to be as a baseball team without their significant home field Hump dome advantage? 

Through the years, the twins have mastered the art of small ball to take advantage of their dome surroundings. As a result of playing on bouncy AstroTurf and under a ceiling that is the same white color of a baseball, the twins have drafted and developed players who can run, catch a baseball, and understand fundamentals--not easy to do these days. In fact, the twins play small ball and understand fundamentals better than any team in the MLB. They have some of the best scouts, a great manager who understands fundamentals, and a great former manager who understood it as well. Good enough to earn the respect of Ozzie Guillen, who refers to the twins as "piranhas" for their aggressive small ball play.

Looking at the franchise's history, the twins won two world series titles in '87 and '91, with both series going 7 games. Amazingly, the twins posted a combined 8 - 0 metrodome record in both series. Over the years, the twins have had impressive home records. As a result, they have been successful, winning American League Central division titles in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2006, and tying for the division title last year (losing to the white sox in game 163 last season played in Chicago). These are amazing accomplishments for a team playing with limited payroll in a smaller market. In addition to the emphasis on speed and fundamentals preached throughout the organization, throw in the other advantages of the metrodome for the twins, such as quirky ground rules that give visiting teams fits and ear shattering crowd noise amplified by the enclosed roof. 

Speaking of the roof, the humpdome ceiling along with the "baggie" out in right field and rock hard AstroTurf may have looked a bit tacky over the years, but I'm sure fans in the stands attending games in the months of April and May weren't complaining about the climate controlled temps at a balmy 70 degrees inside, as spring snow storms were pelting their cars in the lots outside. 

If you were going to build another stadium in Minnesota, how could it not have a retractable roof?

Be careful what you wish for, twin fans. For me, leaving the metrodome for an outdoor field doesn't make a lot of sense. 

The following sources contributed to this post:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11758062

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/derek_jeter_says_metrodome_gave_minnesota_twins_an_edge/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_World_Series

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_World_Series

Hot Stove talk in July: Cubs Should Get Sanchez

Since it feels like winter this July in Chicago and since we are nearing the July 31st trade deadline, why not heat up the hot stove? The cubs should snatch Freddy Sanchez away from the bucs and put him in at 2nd base. The pirates general manager, Neal Huntington, is no different from former pirate GM Dave Littlefield. He's the kid that everyone on the block wants to trade baseball cards with. Maybe that's unfair, given small market economic factors--but that's the way it is. Jim Hendry feasted on the acquisitions of Aramis Ramirez, Randal Simon, and Kenny Lofton from the pirates back in 2003, while giving up almost nothing in return. That worked out pretty well, and so it's time to rethink this same strategy. If the braves were able to pick up Nate McLouth for a bag of marbles from the pirates, why couldn't the cubs offer up some more of the same? 

The pirates will settle for mid tier prospects: throw in a Sam Fuld, maybe a pitcher or two from the DeRosa deal. And then plug in Sanchez at 2nd base everyday. No more of this Fontenot, Baker, Miles stuff. Fontenot is a solid bench player with some good pop. He is great off the bench for 200 to 300 at bats, but anything more than that and he becomes a liability. 

The finances of Sanchez's contract could complicate the move. He's currently earning 6 million with an option to earn 8 mil next year if he gets 600 at bats this year (so far this year he has about 350 at bats).  Given his solid numbers over the last few seasons (2006 NL batting champion, and currently 314, 354, 474, 828), Sanchez is a relative bargain and will be a good investment for any team looking to add some offense. Unfortunately for the cubs, the current ownership limbo and financial constrains will make it challenging for them to once again swap baseball cards with the bucs and get this guy. I've always been a fan, even before his 6 hit game against the cubs earlier this year at Wrigley.