Author: David Shama

Look for the Twins front office to aggressively try to improve the team roster before major league baseball’s July 31 trade deadline.  The Twins have a playoff contending club and the right acquisition could be the difference in at least advancing beyond the first round of the post-season.

There’s nothing new about the Twins wanting to improve themselves but what’s different now is the revenue from the new ballpark.  Although this doesn’t come from ownership or management, there have been reports the Twins could generate $40 million or more per season at Target Field than at their previous home, the Metrodome.

That sort of revenue jump moves the franchise from baseball’s have nots to a much more competitive financial position and creates opportunities to increase player payroll including at mid-season.  The front office shopping list might include a ninth inning closer and power hitting right-handed batter, preferably someone who can play third base.

Closer Jon Rauch looks like a conundrum for the Twins.  He’s tied for first in the American League with 16 saves.  He’s only walked three batters in 25 innings and his ERA is okay at 2.52.  But opposing batters are hitting .278 against him.  While frequently giving up a line drive hit or two, Rauch can send Twins fans reaching for antacids in the ninth inning.

Joe Nathan, out for the season following Tommy John surgery and the man Rauch is trying to replace, had a 1.33 ERA in 2008 and 2.10 last season.  Opposing hitters batted .171 against Nathan in 2009 and .179 the year before.

Delmon Young’s improvement has added another productive right-handed bat to the lineup but with Michael Cuddyer the total only reaches two.  Left-handed batter Jason Kubel is only hitting .200 against left-handed pitching, something the Twins see a lot of with their left-handed heavy batting order featuring Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.

The lack of productive right-handed hitting has been exaggerated too with the games missed by shortstop J.J. Hardy, now back on the disabled list with his injured wrist.  The Twins meager hitting infielders include Nick Punto, .221,  Matt Tolbert, .152,      Brendan Harris, .160 and Alexi Casilla, .256 .  Combined they have one home run and 24 RBI.

The addition of a productive right-handed batsman would brighten prospects for an already outstanding team.  The Twins are more than one-third through the schedule, have a 36-27 record and lead the Central Division by 2.5 games.  Baseball’s power rankings list them among the top six or so teams.

Will the Twins be a better team by October?  The front office will try to make that a reality.

The Starkey Hearing Foundation will hold its annual awards gala fundraiser on Sunday, July 25 at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.  The event will honor humanitarians such as boxer Muhammad Ali, entertainer Steve Martin and former Gophers golfer Harvey Mackay, now a Minneapolis businessman and New York Times best selling author.  Ticket pricing begins at $1,500.00.

The University of Minnesota is expected to appeal the verdict involving the school and Jimmy Williams, but if the former college basketball coach wins his case financial damages for reputation will not be subject to taxes, while damages for lost wages will be.

Astros ace Roy Oswalt has a no-trade clause in his contract.  If he were traded to the Twins or another team he might insist on a new deal before allowing the Astros to move him.

Delmon Young has hit safely in his last 10 games, batting .361.  The Twins outfielder has 13 RBI in his last nine games, 25 in the previous 22.  Young has hit four home runs since May 31.

Twins pitchers have given up the fewest walks in the American League, 134.  The team has also committed the least errors, 21.

Joe Mauer’s grandfather, Jake Mauer, has returned to Canterbury Park after a brief retirement to sell his tip sheet on Saturdays and Sundays.

Vikings coach Brad Childress talking about his feelings regarding Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson not being at the team’s mini-camp practices: “I know that Brett is still doing what he’s doing down there. Adrian has a commitment. The upside of it is that a guy like (rookie running back) Toby Gerhart doesn’t have to be there, picking his nose. He’s getting elevated turns.”

Former Gophers defensive coordinator Greg Hudson is an assistant coach at Florida State.

St. Thomas senior softball player Alison Wright and Gustavus Adolphus senior hockey player Melissa Mackley are the MIAC nominees for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.  The award winner will be announced in October.

Pre-season college football magazines are predicting the Gophers will finish in 10^th or 11^th place in the Big Ten Conference this fall.  Athlon, Lindy’s and Sporting News all have the Gophers at or near the bottom of the projected standings but Minnesota coach Tim Brewster welcomes the publicity.

“…For the most part, it’s uniformed prognosticators,” Brewster told Sports Headliners. “We feel good about our football team.  We feel good about the young talent we’ve infused.  It’s certainly motivation when someone says you’re not very good—adds a little something for your team.  I love the position we’re in because most prognosticators don’t think we’re very good.”

The predictions about the Gophers will be brought up by Brewster in team meetings.  He will talk about internal expectations and sometimes also discuss what others are predicting for the Gophers.

From the perspective of the publications, too much is uncertain to write optimistically about the Gophers.  Athlon, for example, forecasts the Gophers for a last place finish, noting that Minnesota will have “at least nine new starters” on defense and offensively last year’s team was last in the conference in scoring, rushing and total offense.

Regarding the top end of the Big Ten, it’s both a similar and different story, according to pre-season publications.  Ohio State, which has won or shared the last four titles, is the favorite to be league champion in 2010.  But traditional powers Penn State and Michigan figure to chase not only Ohio State but Wisconsin and Iowa, too, in the opinion of many writers.

In the national rankings, Boise State is receiving more pre-season support for a high top 10 finish than ever before.  Years ago the Broncos were on a potential scheduling list for college football powers looking for a Charmin-soft opponent.  Now, following several impressive seasons and a couple of turn-your-head bowl performances, the little school from Boise and the Western Athletic Conference finds itself mentioned in the same sentences with programs like Alabama, Oklahoma and USC.

“I think it speaks volumes for the job that (coach) Chris Petersen does,” Brewster said. “Boise is no secret.  They’ve done as good a job as anybody in the country.  They’ve taken on all comers.”