Author: David Shama

Jim Souhan has proven his baseball expertise through the years covering the Twins first as a reporter and now as a columnist for the Star Tribune.  He’s an admirer of the 2007 Twins and also the American League’s Central Division.

Pressed for a predicted order of finish, he said Tigers, Twins, Indians, White Sox and Royals.  Souhan added a quick disclaimer that the order of teams could easily change in “by far” baseball’s best division.  “A really talented team is going to finish fourth in the Central this year,” he told Sports Headliners. 

Souhan “loves” the Twins lineup and bullpen and likes the club house chemistry.  He also “loves the young arms” of potential starting pitchers Matt Garza, Glen Perkins and Kevin Slowey.  “To me the key is not getting buried early in the season with the rotation as it is (mostly veteran questionables Sidney Ponson, Ramon Ortiz, Carlos Silva),” Souhan said.  “If they (the Twins) can get through mid or late May and not be buried, still have those young arms in reserve and ready to pitch in the major leagues, they’re in pretty good shape.  While it’s hard to pick any team (in the division), look out (for the Twins).” 

Souhan talked about the veteran pitchers contributing early while Perkins and Slowey develop in the minors but he sees a bigger role for Garza right away.  “When you look at what this team’s aspirations are, they’re going to need a real No. 2 starter (behind Johan Santana),” Souhan said.  “Garza is the only guy in camp right now who is capable of being a No. 2.  If they get to July and their rotation is starting Silva, Ortiz, (Boof) Bonser and Ponson, then they’ve got a true ace (Santana) and a bunch of fours and fives.  Maybe a three at best, Bonser.  

“If you have Garza and he pitches the way he’s capable with that arm, then you’ve got legitimate No. 1 and No. 2 (pitchers) who can any given night go out and completely shut down the opposition. You can fill in behind two guys like that.  Also, if they get to the playoffs and Garza is pitching like a true No. 2, now it’s not all on Santana.  You’ve got a chance to win the first two games.”

Pavol Demitra is the only player on the Wild and one of the few in the NHL who uses a wooden stick instead of a composite.  “For me I can shoot much harder and (with) more accuracy,” he said.  “I can hit any corner I want.  Every shot is just exactly the same kind of speed. …” 

The Big Ten Conference athletic directors are expected to discuss expanding the number of conference football games when they meet this spring.  Each school now plays eight conference opponents and if there is any increase a ninth game might be most likely, according to a Big Ten source. 

Jim Dutcher, the best TV analyst in the Big Ten Conference, offers these Final Four picks:  Florida, Ohio State, North Carolina and Kansas. 

Four of the nine head coaching basketball positions in the Mountain West Conference are open, Wyoming, Colorado State, New Mexico and Utah.  Will former Gopher coach Dan Monson show interest? 

The lineup of concerts coming up at Xcel Energy Center includes Christina Aguilera, March 19; Rod Stewart, April 25; Billy Joel, May 9; Kenny Chesney, May 13 and The Police, July 3.

The MIAC recently announced its men’s hockey award winners and Augsburg College senior forward Aaron Johnson was named Player of the Year. Johnson finished the conference season in the top four in points, goals and assists. Augsburg’s Chris Brown was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Auggies to a third place MIAC finish and a 9-3-4 record.

Gustavus Adolphus College senior defenseman Andrea Peterson was named the women’s Player of the Year. Peterson earned her fourth MIAC Player of the Year award after leading the Gusties to the MIAC title and a 17-1 conference record. St. Olaf head coach John Bazzachini was named Coach of the Year. The Oles finished the MIAC regular season in second place with a 12-5-1 mark.

College of St. Catherine senior forward Angie Johnson received the 2006-07 Sheila Brown Award. The award is given to a senior who has made a long-term contribution to her team’s success and consistently competed with good sportsmanship.

Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra shared their optimism last weekend with Sports Headliners about the Wild’s playoffs prospects.  With 12 regular season games remaining, Minnesota looks like a playoff team for just the second time in franchise history.  The Wild are in seventh place in the eight team playoff race in the Western Conference and could move higher before season’s end. 

“This is the best team in Wild history,” Gaborik said Saturday.  “No doubt about that.  There’s great talent, great players here. We’re playing as a team so that’s big.”

Gaborik’s linemate, Demitra, picked up two assists on Sunday to help the Wild defeat Colorado, a team trying to enter the elite eight of the playoffs.  Demitra is in his first season with the Wild but likes this club.  “I think we can compete against any team in the NHL,” he said.

Sunday’s win gave the Wild a 24-7-5  record when Gaborik is in the lineup.  Overall the team is 39-24-7 with 85 points and been playing some of the best hockey in the NHL for two months.  The explosive Gaborik missed 34 games with a groin injury and if anyone needed evidence of the 25-year-old’s importance to the team his absence was conclusive proof.  Gaborik, although he’s played in only a little more than half the team’s games, has 23 goals, second on the Wild to Brian Rolston’s 27.   Rolston has played in 31 more games.  

Gaborik thinks he’s playing as well as ever during his six year career.  “I feel very good on the ice, and then we’re clicking with Demitra there,” Gaborik said.  “He’s a great player.  He’s helping out and we’re helping each other out.  We’re good out there.”

Demitra said his fellow Slovakian “can get open all the time and score goals.”  He admires Gaborik’s “incredible speed” and ability to “score big goals.”

Demitra is tied for the team lead in assists with Rolston (56 each).  Demitra assessed his performance modestly, saying it was “okay” and there are inconsistencies during an NHL season.

While goal tending and defense will be vital to any playoff success for the Wild, there’s no doubt Gaborik’s health now and in the future is a franchise focus.  Groin injuries can be recurring and he has a plan for this summer.

 “I need to address it over the summer and have a good training,” he said.  “It’s going to be important so I try and be healthy the whole year. …”

At 25, Gaborik can anticipate even better performance in the future. “Hopefully I can get better and better,” he said.  “Hopefully I can try to get healthy and play a whole year, and just improve every game so hopefully the peak is going to come.”