The Sporting News Magazine issue of March 28 picks the Twins to finish third in the Central Division behind the White Sox and Tigers. The publication rates the Twins’ defense best among the three teams, but the bullpen the worst.
Joe Mauer, Delmon Young and Francisco Liriano are on the magazine’s all-division team, while Ron Gardenhire is the choice for best manager.
The magazine picks the Red Sox over the Phillies in the World Series.
Friday’s season opener between the Twins and Blue Jays will be played with the roof closed at the Rogers Centre. The Toronto weather forecast includes a daytime high in the upper 30’s and possible snow.
Stubhub.com reported yesterday 382 tickets remain for the game.
Despite a shaky spring training ERA of 9.72, Joe Nathan will likely be the choice to close early Twins’ regular season games.
Gophers’ athletics director Joel Maturi told Sports Headliners that the University will try again this year to win state legislative approval to serve alcohol in suites and other preferred seating areas at TCF Bank Stadium, Williams Arena and Mariucci Arena. Such a policy is the norm at some other major colleges, while legislative opponents argue that if alcohol is made available at U sports venues it should be sold to all adults in attendance.
Former Gopher Zeb Howell was an assistant coach for the Columbia Heights team that lost to Orono in the championship Class 3A state tournament boys basketball game.
Hopkins coach Ken Novak, Jr. has won three consecutive Class 4A state boys basketball titles but probably doesn’t receive enough praise for his work and that of the staff. The Royals annually have outstanding talent, but knowledgeable observers recognize how Hopkins spreads the floor on offense and moves the ball, while playing consistent and aggressive defense. Players work hard and perform with discipline.
Hopkins junior point guard Siyani Chambers looks like a major college prospect with his quickness and ball handling. He’s a distributor, not a scorer.
Apple Valley freshman point guard Tyus Jones is the only Minnesotan named to the 24 player USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team for youth 16 and under. Jones, who turns 15 in May, is the youngest player on the roster posted by usabasketball.com. Two teammates were also born in 1996, with the other players born in 1995.
Hall of Fame community college basketball coach Jay Pivec will have his Dakota County Technical College team playing an NJCAA Division II schedule next season. “Our recruiting has been off the charts,” Pivec said. “As coaches, our biggest problem will be having to turn away a lot of really good kids. Our new program at DCTC has made a big impact throughout the basketball community.”
As of Monday morning Wolves shooting guard Wes Johnson ranked fifth in the NBA among rookies in scoring at 9.1 points per game, seventh in assists at 1.9 and 10th in rebounding, 3.1
Wolves coach Kurt Rambis, who had 15 wins last season as a rookie coach, has 17 now with eight games left including tonight against Eastern Conference leader Chicago.
It may not be Todd Richards’ choice to continue as the Wild’s coach, while former Wild bench boss Jacques Lemaire apparently is in charge of whether he will return to coach the Devils for another season.