Outfielder Joe Gaetti, acquired by the Twins two weeks ago from Oakland, hit a home run in his first game with Double AA New Britain last Thursday and then tore his Achilles tendon. He’s the son of former Twin third baseman Gary Gaetti.
In a Sports Illustrated players poll (August 11 issue) former Twin David Ortiz, now with Boston, had the most votes as “the most dangerous clutch hitter in baseball.” Ortiz’s former teammate with the Red Sox, Manny Ramirez now with the Dodgers, was second.
In the magazine’s August 18 issue the Twins’ Joe Mauer was second in a players poll to determine the “best all-around catcher in baseball.” Russell Martin of the Dodgers had the most votes.
Through the first two games of preseason the Vikings’ Tarvaris Jackson completed 15 of 22 passes (68.2%) for 200 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions and hasn’t been sacked. Jackson’s quarterback rating of 127.1 is an improvement from his 2007 preseason rating of 70.6. Last year Jackson finished preseason 20 of 38 (52.6%) for 225 yards and no touchdowns.
Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier talking earlier this week about how the chemistry is developing between newcomer Jared Allen, and returnees Kevin Williams and Pat Williams on the defensive line: “I think it’s really come along faster than I thought it would. He’s a guy who has achieved a great deal in this league in a short time, but Kevin and Pat are real established in the National Football League as premier defensive tackles so you’re always wondering how that’s going to mesh and how it will fit and if it will create some tensions with egos and so on. But that hasn’t been the case. Those guys really respect one another’s games, and they’ve really gelled very well.
“Now it’s just a matter of playing together and seeing each other in adverse situations as well as positive situations to see how guys react. You find out a lot about people when things don’t go well, and that’s part of growing as a group. We’re going through that in the preseason.”
Coming to the Vikings in anonymity as a center seems like a pretty good beginning. The guy who played center longer than anyone for the franchise, Mick Tingelhoff, signed as a free agent. Current starting center Matt Birk was drafted on the sixth round 10 years ago and became a Pro Bowl player. This past spring the Vikings started looking ahead by drafting John Sullivan, also a sixth round pick. Both Birk and Sullivan are similar in size, about 6-4, 300 pounds. They’re also known as intelligent guys who attended highly regarded schools, Birk at Harvard and Sullivan at Notre Dame.
Free 24 by 36 inch posters of Adrian Peterson will be given to all fans as they depart the Metrodome following the Vikings-Steelers preseason game on Saturday night. The image, taken from an original painting by St. Paul native Robert Blehert, features Peterson breaking free for a touchdown.
Three former Gophers are on the Steelers’ roster: safety Tyrone Carter, running back Gary Russell and tight end Matt Spaeth. Another Steeler running back is former Viking Mwelde Moore.
There are two NFL roster cut down dates next week: 75 players by Tuesday and 53 by Saturday.
Gopher coach Tim Brewster hosts his second annual football clinic for women tomorrow night (Friday). The free event is from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Gibson-Nagurski Football Complex. The clinic will cover the rules of the game, play demonstrations, position instruction, as well as offense, defense and special teams strategy sessions. More than 500 women attended last year’s Gopher Nation Women’s Football Clinic. To R.S.V.P for the clinic, contact Meghan Potter in the Gopher football office, potte128@umn.edu or 612-624-3826.
The Wild and Swarm will share a booth on the second level of the main Grandstand at the State Fair. Players, team personnel and local hockey celebrities are scheduled to appear and sign autographs. Among those scheduled are Wild players Kurtis Foster from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night, Danny Irmen 3 to 4 p.m. August 29, and Benoit Pouliot 3 to 4 p.m. on August 31.
Jordan Nuness, who played for the Gophers before transferring to UMD where he was a standout for the Bulldogs, has decided not to pursue opportunities in European pro basketball, according to his father. Al Nuness, a former Gopher captain, became president of the Golden Dunkers in June, a volunteer support group for Gopher basketball.
Just four points separates five teams in the competition for the seventh and final playoff position in the USL First Division standings. The Thunder, with 27 points, is one point behind Portland and Montreal, both tied for seventh. The Thunder play at home tomorrow night in the National Sports Center stadium against Carolina, tied for last in the standings with Miami at 24 points each. The Thunder’s last regular season game is September 20.