Legendary Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, 81, has announced he will return next year for another season. Twins radio play-by-play man John Gordon, 70, hasn’t made an announcement about his plans. “We would love to see him continue,” Klinger said.
Gordon has been broadcasting Twins games since 1987 while Scully has been with the Dodgers even before the franchise moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1958.
Former Twins pitcher Carlos Silva, now with the Cubs, has been on the disabled list for cardiac evaluation but was scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment soon. Silva has a 10-5 record with a 3.92 ERA.
MLB.com includes Twins pitcher Francisco Liriano among American League candidates for comeback player of the year. Liriano, 12-7 with a 3.41 ERA, is having his best season since 2006 when he was injured and unable to complete the season. This season Liriano has career highs for innings pitched and strikeouts.
Wild backup goalie Josh Harding has impressed with his off-season dedication this summer. Harding has been a regular at Xcel Energy Center workouts focusing on weights, conditioning and spending time with goaltending coach Bob Mason.
Training camp opens for the Wild at Xcel Energy Center on September 17. Players will be on the ice for the first time September 18.
Look for the Wild to be close to the NHL salary cap of $59 million this season.
The NHL is expected to announce the site for a 2012 outdoor game after January 1 of next year. Target Field and TCF Bank Stadium remain possibilities.
The Wild will announce the top 10 games in team history as selected by fans beginning at noon on Sunday at the Minnesota State Fair’s FAN Central building. Next season is the Wild’s 10th in the NHL. The top two games will be featured in a Year Ten DVD. Fans can purchase the DVD for $19 at the Wild’s State Fair booth and at Hockey Lodge locations immediately following the announcement of the Top Ten games.
Several prep football coaches are pushing for milestone wins going into this season. Richard Risbrudt of Fergus Falls needs nine more to total 200, according to information provided by Jim Dotseth, secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association. Rosemount’s Jeff Erdmann, with 99 wins, and Hutchinson’s Andy Rostberg, with 96, are among those nearing 100. Hawley’s Peder Naatz, Fertile-Beltrami’s Brian Nelson and Litchfield’s Jon Johnson all have 95 wins. Totino Grace’s Jeff Ferguson and Westbrook Walnut Grove’s Carter Ross have 93 each.
Gophers coach Tim Brewster, with an introduction by Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman, will be the speaker at the C.O.R.E.S. luncheon on Thursday, September 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Bloomington. C.O.R.E.S. organization members can make reservations by contacting Jim Dotseth, dotsethj@comcast.net. (C.O.R.E.S. is an abbreviation for coaches, officials, reporters, educators and sports fans).
Vikings coach Brad Childress is not only efficient with his X’s and O’s but also adept at analogies. Earlier this week while answering a question concerning medical tests for wide receiver Percy Harvin he said: “I know he’s got a couple more tests he’s got to accomplish in the medical area. We would hope to get those done in relatively quick fashion. It’s not like making a reservation at a hotel or a restaurant. There are people in front of him.”