On the Wolves, Twins and Target Field

I wrote about what I view to be the Wolves' biggest problem today - the fact that they spent all last offseason trying to find a point guard, and they still don't have one.

I like Jonny Flynn's personality and offensive skills, but I hate the way he runs a team. I don't think he has the mentality of a point guard, and I don't think he has the size or athletic dominance to get away with playing the point the way someone like Tyreke Evans does.

I've heard a lot of people question John Wall's shooting skills and maturity, and compare him unfavorably to Evan Turner. But Turner may be as good as he's ever going to get. Wall, to me, is a young Derrick Rose or Chris Paul. And while Rose hasn't been the franchise-changer he was billed to be when he was drafted, he's still getting better.

Wall is even faster and more athletic than Rose, and, as Jerry Zgoda pointed out in his piece today, the NBA"s rules on hand-checking allow fast guards to dominate play.

I think the Wolves have to hope they luck into Wall. At least then their motto - United We Run - would have at least one accurate word in it.

I know, I know, if you're a Twins fan, you want to see Wilson Ramos, Anthony Slama and Danny Valencia on the roster, because those three are either better or more promising than guys who actually made the Opening-Day roster.

Patience, patience, patience. I keep hearing people - including many people on my radio station, KSTP am-1500 - raving about Ramos' spring training performances or questioning how the Twins could ever choose a light hitter like Drew Butera over the vastly more impressive Ramos.

If Joe Mauer gets hurt or needs more days off than anticipated, Ramos will be called up. If someone in the bullpen fails or gets hurt, Slama (or Glen Perkins, if he can re-prove himself in the minors) will be called up. If Valencia proves himself ready, the Twins will find a spot for him.

Baseball fans tend to obsess over spring training news because they have nothing else to pay attention to. What you have to realize is that only two important things happened all spring - Joe Nathan got hurt, and Joe Mauer signed a contract. The rest was calisthenics.

So stop obsessing about the 23rd, 24th and 25th spots on the roster. Those spots will be in flux all season.

My prediction after seeing Target Field in person: Justin Morneau is going to have a monster season.

He's driven to make up for his slumps down the stretch the last two years. He's determined to keep himself healthy and spry for an entire season. He's getting a lot of advice from Jim Thome on how to prepare and pace himself. And Target Field has little foul territory and a short rightfield porch.

So if I played fantasy baseball, Morneau would be a high draft pick for me.

Watched a part of the Twins' game against the Yankees on ESPN today.

Nomar Garciaparra needs a lot of work as an announcer.

It's always truck me as strange, how national broadcasting companies will hire former players who were terrible with the media when they played. Garciaparra pouted through most of his career, and now he's going to pretend to be Mr. Sunshine?

Give me a break.