Author: David Shama

Carlos Gomez had 18 stolen bases on June 9 and has added only three since then.  He has no stolen bases in his last 10 games but is hitting .379 during the period.

Clem Haskins, who was forced out of his job in 1999 as Gopher coach, has no plans to return to basketball, according to a recent espn.com story.  Dana O’Neil wrote about her visit to Kentucky to talk with Haskins who has lived on his farm near Campbellsville since leaving Minnesota. More at https://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=3510729&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab5pos1

Jim Holden will be autographing copies of his new book, Tennis in the Northland, at three locations during the next nine days.  The former Northfield tennis coach has written a comprehensive history of boys’ high school tennis in Minnesota.  The 448 page book includes 180 photos and covers the great teams and players in state history.  It’s a fun read with coverage of interesting characters including a former prep tennis player who went on to write a book about Charles Manson, Helter Skelter.  Holden will autograph books at the Men’s Senior Clay Court Championships at Bearpath Country Club in Eden Prairie on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Monday from 9 a.m. to noon.  On Saturday, August 16 he will be at the Sectional USTA League Tournament at the Baseline Tennis Center on the University of Minnesota campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.   https://www.jim-holden.com/

The Vikings’ opening preseason game against Seattle tonight (7 p.m. Metrodome) will be televised by Ch. 5.  The Vikings have finished their preseason schedules undefeated six times in franchise history.  The most recent year was 200l.

Minnesota-Seattle connections include Vikings left guard Steve Hutchinson who played five seasons with the Seahawks.  Seattle wide receiver Nate Burleson and safety Brian Russell each played three seasons for the Vikings.  Former Gopher wide receiver Logan Payne is on the Seattle roster.

The Vikings finished 8-8 last season and missed the playoffs.  Seattle was 10-6 and won the NFC West.

Sports Illustrated, in its recent fantasy football preview, rated the Vikings’ defense and special teams No. 3 in the NFL, behind No. 1 San Diego and No. 2 Chicago.

The Minnesota Thunder plays its seventh consecutive USL game at home on Sunday, starting at 5:05 p.m. at the Blaine Sports Center stadium against Seattle.  The Thunder has won twice during the previous six games and will go on the road for the first time since July 3 next Saturday (August 16) for a game at Rochester.

At first glance it may look like what’s on the line in Sunday’s Minnesota-Wisconsin basketball game at Williams Arena is positioning for post-season play.  Sure enough the Gophers, 13-6 and 3-4 in the Big Ten Conference, will be trying to strengthen their fragile record and NCAA hopes, while the Badgers, 17-3 and 7-1, are in the conference title chase and a solid bet to qualify for the NCAA tournament.  But there’s more “booty” involved on Sunday, particularly for the University of Minnesota whose basketball and football teams have long been losing ground in the border war.

Check this out: the football team is 2-8 in the last 10 meetings with the Badgers.  In basketball, Wisconsin has won four straight, taken four of the last five games and is 12-2 against Minnesota going back to 2000.

Historically, Minnesota leads the all-time football series against Wisconsin with a 59-50-8 record. In basketball the Gophers are 91-82 versus the Badgers.

But it’s not just on the field and court where in recent years Bucky has been knocking Goldy Gopher on the head.  The Badgers are enjoying more recruiting success in Minnesota than at any time in memory.  Wisconsin was 12-1 in football in 2006, led by starting quarterback John Stocco of Richfield.  Last fall’s Badgers included Minnesota contributors such as David Gilreath of New Hope who led the Big Ten in punt return average at 14 yards per game and placed 10^th in the conference in all purpose yards at 104.3 yards a game.  The Wisconsin 2008 recruiting class includes commitments from two of the most highly sought Minnesotans, defensive end Brendan Kelly of Eden Prairie and offensive lineman Joe Schafer of St. Paul.

The Badger basketball roster includes freshman center Jon Leuer of Orono and junior forward Kevin Gullikson of Stillwater. Leuer had 12 points at Duke and 25 at Michigan earlier this season. The 2008 Wisconsin recruiting class includes guard Jordan Taylor of Bloomington (Benilde St. Margaret’s) and Jared Berggren of Princeton.

The Gophers can win a small battle and make a statement with a win on Sunday.  The task means taking on a Badger team that is ranked No. 13 in national polls this week.   The Badgers are a balanced bunch with only three players scoring in double figures and none averaging over 14 points per game. Wisconsin averages 69.7 points per game and gives up only 54.5.

The Gophers seniors, center Spencer Tollackson, forward Dan Coleman and guard Lawrence McKenzie, need to play with consistency to lead the Gophers on Sunday.  But playing before an emotional crowd and with a chance to win for just the second time in their careers against the Badgers, there’s plenty of incentive.  Given the Badgers dominance in football and basketball, plus recruiting in-roads, make it a “booty-full”  incentive.

The Twins experienced a high finance week in which the franchise committed $104 million in future compensation to Michael Cuddyer and Justin Morneau, and saved part of the Pohlad family fortune by not paying Johan Santana $100 million or more, instead shipping him to the New York Mets (previously predicted here) for four prospects.

It’s nice having Joe Mauer, Cuddyer and Morneau locked into long term contracts, and Delmon Young looks like a heck of a prospect, but reality is the Twins appear less like a pennant contender this year than last.  How else can it be with Santana, arguably baseball’s best pitcher gone to the Mets, and Torii Hunter, one of the American League’s top five outfielders, chasing down extra hits and hitting home runs for the Los Angeles Angels?

The Twins will be a popular choice for third or fourth in the five-team Central Division behind Detroit, Cleveland and likely Chicago.  The division will draw support as baseball’s best and it will certainly test the young Twins who feature a roster now of players between 22 and 26 years old.

If you’re into the “blame game” about losing Santana, go ahead and scream at Barry Zito and his agent for escalating the free agent starting pitcher market to crazy levels.  Zito left Oakland after the 2006 season and signed with the Giants for $18 million per year. That changed the money game for elite pitchers like Santana.

Without Santana the pitching staff is in search of a numero uno.  No guarantees that anyone will fill the No. 1 stud role in 2008 but Francisco Liriano is the most intriguing guy to watch. Manager Ron Gardenhire said on WCCO Radio Sunday that “Liriano can get anybody out.”   Sports Headliners will top that:  Liriano has better “stuff” (pitches) than Santana.

That kind of hype means nothing if the 24-year-old left hander isn’t fully recovered from the elbow surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2007 season.  Gawd he was good in 2006, though, 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006. The man can blow both his changeup and fast ball right by the best of hitters.

Another pitching name that keeps coming up is 24-year-old Nick Blackburn.  He debuted in a limited role last season with the Twins and had a 7.71 ERA, but he was impressive in the Arizona Fall League and is considered a prospect in the starting pitching competition.

Pitching coach Rick Anderson told Sports Headliners back in December that he likes competition and figures to see plenty of it among his potential starters in spring training.  He talked about “relying on young kids” and “on the job training.”

This figures to be an exciting team to watch mature toward winning seasons in the new ballpark starting in 2010.  As the Twins look for answers with their starting pitching, the bullpen could remain special with veteran Joe Nathan and others who have been effective in the past.  Plus, the Twins figure to score runs including behind the bat of the 22-year-old Young, regarded by some scouts, according to the Sporting News, as the best young hitter in the game.

Another newcomer of interest is shortstop Adam Everett.  He made only seven errors in 2006 playing for Houston.

Here’s something else to help you survive the snow and wind chill until spring.  The 2008 home schedule has more pop than usual.  The Yankees play two series in the dome, not one as in the past.  The Red Sox play four games, not three.  Hunter and the Angels play here in the opening series in what will be a much anticipated opener.

And now we know the starting pitcher won’t be Johan Santana.