Author: David Shama

Twins’ pitcher Kevin Slowey’s placement on the 15-day disabled list on Friday night with a strained right wrist eliminated any chance of being selected for the All-Star game in St. Louis on July 14.  Slowey is 10-3 and among baseball’s winningest pitchers. Anthony Swarzak, recalled from Triple-A Rochester to replace Slowey, was recently named to the International League All-Star team after compiling a 4-4 record with a 2.34 ERA in 10 starts.

Twins catcher Joe Mauer’s grandfather Jake, who started selling his handicapping sheet in 1985 at Canterbury Park, will be featured on a segment of KSTP TV’s Twin Cities Live on Wednesday afternoon.

Wolves’ forward Kevin Love was one of 25 developing NBA players to accept an invitation to participate in the 2009 USA Basketball Men’s National team mini-camp July 22-25 in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Gophers are selling custom designed frames for $200 that include a piece of the Williams Arena floor that was replaced earlier this year.  https://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=3743642

The Sporting News issue of July 6, has the Gophers football team ranked No. 50 among 120 schools.  Among Big Ten programs, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana are ranked lower.  The highest rated conference school is Ohio State at No. 9.  The Big Ten’s other top 20 school is Penn State at No. 12.

Scout.com has the Gophers 2010 recruiting class ranked at No. 28 in the country.  The Website reports that Minnesota has 10 verbal commitments so far.  https://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2010

The Gophers have had few Iowa recruits on the roster over the years but Minnesota is reportedly among the schools that interest Cedar Rapids running back Andre Dawson, a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com.  https://iowa.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=76560

Bill Fitch wasn’t trying to list candidates for the Wolves’ head coaching job but during an interview with Sports Headliners he mentioned Sam Mitchell, the former Toronto coach who also was a player here.   Fitch’s admiration for Mitchell was obvious.

Fitch, who coached the Gophers from 1968-1970, is now retired but he coached in the NBA for almost three decades and won an NBA title with Boston in 1981.  He still follows the league with interest from homes in Texas and New Mexico.

“I like Sam Mitchell a lot,” Fitch said.  “I am not pushing names but the first name that came to mind was Sam.”

Mitchell, 45, coached the Raptors for four-plus seasons, with a 156-189 record.  He was NBA Coach of the Year in 2007 after his team won the Atlantic Division.

What’s appealing to Fitch about Mitchell?  “I like his demeanor,” Fitch answered.  “He’s a patient coach.  I think he’s been grounded in the fundamentals of coaching by a lot of people.  He brings a lot of class.  He’s one I think that would bring a strong team element.

“I really thought he did a heck of a job at Toronto.  I hated to see him put out to pasture because the good Lord could come down and coach that ball club the last year there and not be happy with it.”

With minimal talent and the more promising players lacking experience, the Wolves are no sure bet to improve on last season’s 24-58 record (only four teams had worse records). The Wolves’ roster includes 24-year-old center Al Jefferson, a pair of 20-year-olds in Kevin Love and Jonny Flynn, and 18-year-old Ricky Rubio if he can escape his Spanish team contract and wants to play here.

It’s no wonder that “patience” is among the words Fitch used to describe what he thinks the Wolves need in a coach.  He believes the next Wolves boss should have previous head coaching experience and be able to assemble an outstanding group of assistants.  The top attribute needed, according to Fitch, is teaching.

Wolves president of basketball operations David Kahn said being an NBA coach involves a lot of expertise but the situation here puts a focus on player development.

“I don’t have a must list criteria (for a coach),” he said.  “You would love to find somebody who can cover as many bases as possible because these are huge jobs and they keep getting bigger.  And in our case clearly one component will have to be player development and teaching because we have such a young team.

“I have talked in the past about a (coach who can promote) positive environment, healthy environment, game management, X’s and O’s. …I also recognize that finding a person who can do all that in one human being may be hard.  So there is no must have.  Absolutely none, but I do believe given our youth that if I had to highlight one area it’s player development.”

Kahn was expected to review his coaching candidates over the weekend and said he anticipated interviewing this week.  He believes it’s likely a hire will be made during July.

It’s not known if Mitchell is a candidate.  TV analyst Mark Jackson’s name has been prominently mentioned for the job even though he doesn’t have previous head coaching experience.  That inexperience, including with player development, could be at least somewhat compensated for by hiring experienced assistants to complement Jackson.