That’s right friends, it’s time to hurl some more tomatoes. Don’t worry, this batch is safe. While I go and unwrap a package of these magical red fruits, let me start by preparing to send some in the direction of a particular sports icon, who also has a part-time gig as a rapper. C’mon, you know who I’m talking about…

Let’s get this thing started… where do you direct your tomatoes this week?


Throwing Tomatoes – Volume VII

Top of the Vine This Week:
Shaquille O’Neal
…for giving the media something to chew up and spit out for a month.
Per O’Neal during a freestyle rap in a night club the other night, “You know how I be, last week Kobe couldn’t do without me”.

What would have been more fitting to say? This…”You know how I be, recent months the Suns couldn’t win with me. You know my game’s overripe, I choose to rap instead of work from the charity stripe”. Hey, give me a break, I was just freestylin’.

All in all, I shouldn’t complain. This performance was a ton better than any of his movies.


Los Angeles Lakers
…for draining the life out of what was an NBA Finals filled with “mega-hype”.
It was the Lakers and Celtics in the NBA Finals for the first time in over two decades. It was supposed to be a great series. It was supposed to live up to the hype. It flat out didn’t. Kudos to the C’s though, as they were clearly the better team this time around.

Coco Crisp
…for not just charging the mound against James Shields and the Rays days ago, but recently thinking his suspension should be reduced to less than seven games.
Rays manager Joe Maddon probably deserves a tomato here too. Still, Crisp should have known Tampa was going to throw at him. He should have kept his cool and not charged the mound. Honestly, I also have to give him a gold star for his dodging of the original punch by James Shields. That was a “Mike Tyson’s Punch Out” type of dodging maneuver right there. I bet the ensuing dogpile didn’t feel too great though.

Pacman Jones
…for thinking that changing his name will officially change his image.
Sorry Pacman (or Adam is it?), I guess I should think about giving you a “gold star” for trying. Still, I just can’t do it. Leave your name alone, just change yourself. Maybe I’m the kind of guy that needs to see results first.

Johan Santana
…for giving up a grand slam to an AL pitcher.
That’s right, Felix Hernandez hit a granny off of Santana, the first time an AL pitcher had done so in nearly four decades. What’s the phrase I’m looking for? I believe it’s “even a blind squirrel finds a nut some day”. Sorry King Felix… but hey, take care of that ankle.

Baseball Players Using Viagra
…as a performance enhancer.
I saw this report a few weeks ago via Fox Sports. Still, this story has more than four hours of lasting time (sorry, couldn’t resist that one). Therefore, I had to mention it here. Hmm, I guess the players are going to need larger cups…

The Big Brown Saga
…for not disappearing.
First off, this was the most disappointing Triple Crown race in years if you ask me. Now, a report on ESPN is stating that a freelance photographer submitted closeups of a loose shoe on Big Brown’s right hind hoof. However, don’t go and try and question the photographer’s “cred”, as Rick Dutrow apparently confirmed this. Still, the Big Brown story is done. Let’s move on to the next horse that will only win the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Tiger Woods
…for making the wrong decision regarding the U.S. Open.
I know Tiger is competitive. I know how much he loves to play… and more so, how much he loves to win. I know he wants Jack’s record. I know he wanted that U.S. Open. Still, he’s no superhero, even if he managed to win at Torrey Pines, while basically playing on one leg. Think of it this way, if he sacrifices the U.S. Open to heal more, he then has the British, PGA, and Ryder Cup. That’s more opportunities for big victories. Bad move Tiger.

Don Imus
…for being Don Imus.
Yes, a race related comment happened again, this time involving Pacman Jones (wait, wait, I remember… Adam Jones). Seriously, this guy should just write up an excuse and apology before every show. Face it “Donny Boy”, you’re under a microscope and will be for life. Get used to it.

Honorary Tomato Throwers of the Week
Because those who found success earn a chance to sling one at their opposition

Rocco Mediate – at Johnny Miller for making those ridiculous comments during the U.S. Open
Chicago Cubs – at their south side neighbors, who they recently swept out of Chi-town
Baltimore Orioles – at their critics who said they would be lucky to win 50 games.
Kobe Bryant – at those who said he would never get back to the Finals again without Shaq


This has been “Throwing Tomatoes”… but don’t worry, these weren’t laced with salmonella.

With a 5pm ET deadline looming, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that the Mets are inching closer to a record deal with SP Johan Santana. Certainly, there is an outside chance that the Mets could botch this deal and fail to sign Santana to an extension, but I think that chance is slimmer than Mary-Kate Olson’s waistline. Mets GM Omar Minaya will get the deal done. Mark my words. After all, a blockbuster deal for an ace is the perfect way to get the Mets fanbase to forget about last year’s drastic late season collapse. Well… that is, until yours truly just reminded them of it.

Once the Santana deal is finalized, the fate of the Twins will be set in stone. While Santana for the Big Apple, Minnesota will be left with only the abuse that they are taking for the return they received for their former ace. Well, that plus the four players they received, all of which were Top 10 prospects in the Mets organization (according to Baseball America).

Honestly, the Twins are taking more abuse than Lindsay Lohan’s car. Minnesota has caught way too much flack around the industry for the Santana deal. Critics are absolutely thrashing the Twins, and it just isn’t fair. It isn’t… and there are a number of reasons why.

First off, plain and simple, you’re talking about arguably the best pitcher in the game over the last five years. Over the last four seasons, Santana has eclipsed the 200 inning mark each time, while adding 200+ strikeouts each year, an ERA under 3.00 three of the four years, and 70 total victories. On top of that, Santana earned two Cy Young awards. That fact alone is going to result in most critics feeling that the Twins didn’t receive enough in return. Let’s face it, NOTHING was ever going to be enough for arguably the best pitcher in the game.

One must also keep in mind that Santana has been demanding a trade for months. More recently, Santana became fed up with the Twins dragging their feet on trade talks, and added a new demand that a deal be completed, or he wouldn’t waive his no trade clause (if a deal were made during the season). The key point here is with Santana continuously demanding a trade, Minnesota loses leverage in any deal they were trying to make, because opposing clubs know that Santana wanted out, and fast. Therefore, Santana essentially forced Minnesota’s hand. You don’t think his complaints to be traded didn’t affect Minnesota’s negotiations with other teams? It keeps the Twins from allowing other teams to fight over him and up their offers.

Critics are quick to point out that the deals with the Yankees and Red Sox would have been better. Again, we’re talking about arguably the best starter in the game. The Twins are going to wait it out and take the best offer they think they can get. They’re going to wait for the market to unfold, seeing what exactly they think he is worth. Months back, the Yankees offered Melky Cabrera and Phil Hughes, and while they’re certainly talented young players, Minnesota thought they could get more, and I don’t blame them. On the other hand, the Red Sox weren’t even willing to include both Jon Lester and Jacoby Ellsbury in the deal. If Lester, the Sox were only willing to add Coco Crisp, along with other talented prospects. Are you kidding me? Crisp plays quality defense at times, but offensively, he has done next to nothing statistically in a very friendly park for hitters.

The Mets offered four prospects, and while none of them may carry the name that Hughes or Lester does, there’s still plenty of potential there. Carlos Gomez and Phil Humber, while falling somewhat out of the good graces of the New York organization, still have the talent to emerge into legitimate major leaguers in Minnesota. Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra are younger prospects, but projected as potential mid to back end starters. Certainly, the only legitimate criticism is Minnesota’s inability to acquire Mets top prospect Fernando Martinez in the deal. Other than that, the Twins acquired four players with potential. Sure, prospects are always a gamble, but as an organization, the Twins have done a stand up job at recognizing young talent in the past. For example, does anyone recall a little deal the Twins made with the Giants for A.J. Pierzynski? Pierzynski was traded from the Twins to the Giants for Joe Nathan and two minor leaguers. Nathan is still one of the dominant closers in the game, and the two minor leaguers obtained were Francisco Liriano and #### Bonser. Enough said.

People must also consider the league situation. The Twins were able to still get a fairly legitimate offer, while trading Santana to the National League, where they will not have to face him nearly as much, if at all. If I’m Minnesota, I make a team like the Yankees and Red Sox offer slightly more knowing that they will face them during the regular season, as well as potentially in the playoffs.

And yes, by saying that, I do think that Minnesota can be a playoff team again… and soon. If you don’t, then you’re just not thinking straight. Sure, the Twins play in a tough division, but let’s consider the talent that still exists on this team. Francisco Liriano (12-3, 2.16 ERA, 144 K’s in 121 IP in 2006) is back from injury to stabilize the starting rotation. Star prospect Delmon Young was acquired in a deal with Tampa Bay. The rest of the young core is still intact, with C Joe Mauer, 1B Justin Morneau, and OF Michael Cuddyer leading the way. Even talented prospects like Nick Blackburn are waiting in the wings, itching to get a chance to help Minnesota’s major league club.

The forgotten point in this whole debate is the fact that the Twins did make an attempt to sign Johan Santana to an extension. The Twins reportedly made an offer of 20 million per year over four years. This is impressive for a franchise that can’t financially compete with teams like Boston and New York on a regular basis. In hearing this, some critics may be quick to chime in and say “If you can offer four years, then why not the six or seven years that Johan requires”? Put it this way, what if Santana begins to decline into his 30’s, becomes ineffective, or even injury prone? That would leave the Twins with a 20 million dollar man on the books and no team willing to take him off their hands.

Overall, we should ask ourselves how this deal will be perceived in a few years. For Minnesota, will this deal be considered a “Twin Killing”, as in making a killing on the deal, or instead a “Twin Killing”, as in getting killed and beaten down by the media? That part remains to be seen.

All in all, critics need to give the Minnesota Twins a break. Instead, if you’re going to trash someone, try the Houston Astros (who first signed Santana) and Florida Marlins (who originally acquired him), who were the two teams that had their hands on Santana before he eventually made his way to the Twins via a trade during the 1999 Rule 5 Draft.