Author: David Shama

The Twins, who defeated Kansas City last night at home, have a record of 26-11 against the Royals since the start of 2009. The Royals, who might have the best talent in the minor leagues, are expected to be among the worst teams in baseball this season but so far have a 6-4 record.

Erratic 27-year-old left-hander Francisco Liriano starts today for the Twins.  Capable of being very difficult to hit, Liriano has a 7.71 ERA so far this season and at times shown poor control of his pitches.  The Twins could be patient with Liriano for awhile but it’s debatable whether management will commit to him for a long-term contract after this season when his present deal ends.

A good guess from reports is that injured second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka will be back in the lineup by late May or early June.  In addition to rehabilitating his injured left leg, he can benefit from the down time by learning more about the major league environment and improving his English.

Twins outfielder-first baseman Michael Cuddyer has also played 63 games at second base during his career, most recently on Sunday.  He has made only three errors at second, all of them in 2004.

Luke Hughes has played in three games for the Twins since being recalled from Rochester to help replace Nishioka.  Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said on his KSTP Radio show on Sunday that Cuddyer and Hughes have about the same range in the field.

Among the offseason decisions the Wild face is whether to renew the contract of popular forward Andrew Brunette who signed a three-year deal with the team in 2008.

Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Western Hockey League and defenseman Adam Larsson from the Swedish Elite League were named the top NHL 2011 draft-eligible skaters from North America and Europe after NHL Central Scouting Bureau released its final rankings on Monday. The entry draft will take place at the Xcel Energy Center with the first round on June 24 and subsequent rounds June 25.

The April 11 issue of Sports Illustrated ranks Ohio State No. 2 and Wisconsin No. 10 in early 2011-12 college basketball rankings.  Minnesotans Jordan Taylor, a for sure 2011-12 preseason All-American point guard, and Mike Bruesewitz, predicted to be a featured forward in the offense, are the only Badgers mentioned in a brief summary about the team.

Bruesewitz had his carrot top fro shaved to raise money for the National MS Society  in the fight against multiple sclerosis.

Yahoo Sports rates the Gophers’ Trevor Mbakwe the No. 12 power forward in college basketball.  Mbakwe, who has interest in turning pro instead of returning for his senior season, isn’t included among nbadraft.net’s projected players to be chosen by NBA teams in 2011.  Last year the website projected sophomore Gopher forward Rodney Williams as a first round draft pick, but not any more after he averaged 6.8 points.

Next fall WCCO Radio will have its most minimal major sports play-by-play offerings in over 50 years.  The station will carry Timberwolves games, but no longer is the broadcast home of any other major pro sports teams or Gophers football, basketball or hockey.

Tim Leiweke, the former Timberwolves executive who is leading the drive to bring the NFL to Los Angeles, is the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Business Person of the Year.  As chief executive of Anschutz Entertainment Group, Leiweke provided leadership in the development of the Staples Center and the L.A. LIVE entertainment complex that have been credited with helping to economically revive downtown Los Angeles.  Earlier this year a $700 million naming rights deal with Farmers Insurance was announced for a new football stadium in Los Angeles.

The Minnesota High School Football Coaches Association announced its coaches of the year by classes: 5A, Brad Anderson, Wayzata; 4A, Marc Franz, Rogers; 3A, Mike Kesler, Rochester Lourdes; 2A, Don Seipkes , Ottertail Central; 1A, Denny Lux, New Ulm Cathedral; and Nine-man, Jeff Gronner, Cromwell.  Brainerd’s Ron Stolski was honored as the Coach of the Year after setting the all-time state prep record for most career wins, 330.

The Butch Nash outstanding assistant coach winners are Mike Allen, Northfield; Kirk Golberg, Lakeville South; Greg Johnson, Delano; Mark Johnson, Rocori; Jeff Moore, Verndale; Jeff Moritko, Totino-Grace; and Charlie Reed, Cretin-Derham Hall.

Win Willy, owned by Jerry and Marlene Myers’ Jer-Mar Stables of Minneapolis, won the Grade 2 $350,000 Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Ridden by Cliff Berry and trained by Mac Robertson, the five-year-old thoroughbred has now won $821,960 in his 18-race career.

Harmon Killebrew was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch this afternoon for the Twins’ home opener against Oakland, but will remain at home in Arizona where he receives chemotherapy.  Longtime teammate Tony Oliva will sub for Killebrew and his grandson, Casey Killebrew, a baseball player at Apple Valley High School, will catch the ceremonial first pitch.

The Twins’ legendary slugger and Hall of Famer was diagnosed with esophageal      cancer in December.  The 74-year-old is a hero to every generation of Upper Midwest baseball fans and his appearance at Target Field today was anticipated by his many admirers.

Twins’ officials including marketing vice president Patrick Klinger received the disappointing news earlier this week that Killebrew thought it best not to travel and throw out the first pitch.  “He was my choice from the beginning, but I always knew there was a chance he might not make it here,” Klinger said.  “Chemo can knock you on your backside.”

Klinger saw Killebrew in spring training where he spent five days with the Twins.  “He looked fit, his voice was good and he was in great spirits,” Klinger said.

Killebrew’s 75^th birthday will be on June 29 and he’s scheduled to be in town for his charity golf event.  The Twins play the Dodgers at Target Field that day and Klinger said the club will recognize Killebrew’s birthday at the game.

No doubt he will receive a long standing ovation from the crowd while a regional TV audience applauds at home. The “Killer” was the face of the franchise in its early years and by the time his major league career had ended in 1975 he had 573 home runs.  Killebrew later worked on Twins’ broadcasts and has remained part of the franchise in recent years as a special assistant.

But even without all the home runs and the Hall of Fame resume, Killebrew would make you rise to your feet and wipe a tear away.  Countless ball players, media and fans know Killebrew is a wonderful person − a gracious, caring and approachable man.

Killebrew is on a short list of the best people I have encountered in professional sports.  With his everyday manner, the “Killer” might just as well be the Twins’ clubhouse attendant, not the guy who ranks No. 3 on the all-time American League home run list.