Author: David Shama

The Twins are a half game out of first place in the Central Division this morning after winning three of four games at home this week against Chicago.  The last year the Twins won the division was two years ago, but on August 1, 2006 the Twins were 9.5 games behind first place Detroit.

The 2006 Twins pulled off a remarkable comeback to win the division, while this year’s team hasn’t chased a team like Detroit that was 71-35 with the best record in baseball two years ago on this day, August 1, 2006.  Chicago’s record today is 60-47, while the Twins are 60-48.

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau elevated his play from the ordinary to the exceptional during the 2006 season and won the American League’s Most Valuable Player award.   He’s toward the top of anyone’s list now to win the 2008 award.  During the White Sox series he had two three RBI games and increased his career RBI’s against Chicago to 69 in 76 games.  Morneau is tied for third in league batting at .320 and is second in RBI at 83.

The Twins are at home for a three game series against Cleveland starting tonight.  They are 8-4 against the Indians this season, including 5-1 at the Metrodome.

While every series is important in a pennant race, anxiety goes up a level in anticipation of New York’s visit here August 11, 12 and 13.  The Twins are only 7-15 against East Division teams.  The record against the Yankees is 2-2 at home, 0-3 at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees have won seven of their last 10 games.

Patrick Klinger, Twins vice president of marketing, reported via e-mail earlier this week that advance ticket sales are 20,000, 21,000 and 25,000 for the series.

With the Twins loving the outfield defense of left fielder Delmon Young, center fielder Carlos Gomez and right fielder Denard Span, you wonder if injured right fielder Michael Cuddyer could switch to third base next season, a position he played in the minor leagues.  In 1999 Cuddyer was rated by Baseball America as the best defensive third baseman in the Florida State League.  The regular DH role seems a possibility, too.

Francisco Liriano, 9-0 in his last 10 starts in Rochester, looks like a sure thing to be a starting pitcher for the Twins next season unless he has an injury.  Best guess is Liriano, 24, replaces Livan Hernandez, 33, in an otherwise young starting rotation.  And, yes, Liriano should be recalled now to help the Twins’ pennant drive and he might replace Hernandez. 

Phil Humber, who was acquired from the Mets during the off-season in the Johan Santana deal, is also pitching for the Twins’ AAA team in Rochester and is 6-7 with a 5.38 ERA.  Kevin Mulvey, also part of the deal, is 4-8 with a 3.89 ERA.

The Sporting News issue of July 28 lists Jared Allen, the Vikings defensive end who came here from Kansas City, first among the “biggest off season acquisitions” made by NFL teams.

Don’t bet your bubble gum card money on it, but undrafted Illinois linebacker J Leman might make the Vikings roster.  He’s a classic effort guy and hard hitter.  Possible fit on special teams?

Vikings’ right tackle Ryan Cook was selected for the Mountain West Conference’s 10^th anniversary football team.  Cook, who played at New Mexico, was chosen for the offensive line as was Adam Goldberg, the former Edina high schooler who played at Wyoming and is now a reserve with St. Louis.  More at https://themwc.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072208aac.html

The Vikings’ first preseason game is Friday, August 8 against Seattle.  The team leaves its Mankato training camp the next Friday, August 15.

Best (trick) trivia question heard in a long time:  What are the two northern most cities ever to host the World Series?  (See bottom of the column for the answer).

Laker superstar Kobe Bryant praised former Timberwolf first round pick O.J. Mayo in a Los Angeles Times story on Wednesday.  Bryant said Mayo “can handle, he can shoot, he can pass, he’s fast, he’s quick, so that’s the whole package.”  Mayo is a member of the U.S. Select team that scrimmaged against the U.S. Olympic team.  More at https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-olyhoops30-2008jul30,0,2301755.story

Ken Lien was impressed earlier this week watching Gopher recruit Devron Bostick play in the Howard Pulley League in St. Paul.  Lien, chairman of the Minnesota Mr. Basketball committee, said Bostick “can really sky.”  The 6-4 former national junior college player of the year is likely to start for the Gophers, adding scoring and athleticism to the lineup.

Former Gopher wide receiver Michah Rucker, who transferred to Eastern Illinois,             is in camp with Pittsburgh and trying to make the Steelers’ roster as a free agent.

Wally’s Choice, the local race horse who didn’t race at all last year after a career threatening torn tendon in 2006, has run three times at Canterbury Park this season with a third place finish the best showing.  Wally’s Choice is owned by Wally “the Beerman” McNeil, his wife Joyce McNeil and Canterbury Park Board chairman Curtis Sampson.   With $432,955 in career earnings, the owners hope that one day Wally’s Choice can break Blair’s Cove’s all-time record of $533,528 for Minnesota bred race horses.  Wally’s Choice, a seven-year-old thoroughbred, received stem cells from his own body to help the healing process from the torn tendon.

Wally’s choice will be among the horses running in the 10th annual Claiming Crown races tomorrow (Saturday) at Canterbury Park.  Also racing is Chickster whose nine wins in 2008 make him the winningest horse in North America this year.  He is owned by Curt Johnson from Detroit Lakes.

Thunder general manager Djorn Buchholz told Sports Headliners last week that the probability is “pretty high” the team will add at least one player between now and late August when USL rosters are frozen for the season.  He mentioned adding a “central defender and goal scorer.”   Even though the franchise added goal scorers to the roster in the off-season, the team has been frustrated with a lack of scoring.  The Thunder scored eight goals in five league games in July, an improvement from June when the totals were four goals in six games.

Trivia answer:  Bloomington (1965) and Minneapolis (1987 and 1991).