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Draft Big Potential Step for Twins

Posted on May 23, 2012May 23, 2012 by David Shama

The 2012 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft next month could be a significant step in rebuilding the Twins franchise. After finishing with 99 losses last season and starting this year with an American League worst record of 15-27, it’s indisputable the franchise is looking for lots of talent on the big league roster and in the minor league system.

The Twins will have the second pick in the draft that begins on Monday, June 4 and continues through Wednesday, June 6. The Twins will also choose players at the No. 32 and 42 spots in the early drafting, plus four other picks before the draft ends.

The overall 2012 draft pool might not be the most talent-filled compared to predecessors but choosing at No. 2 after Houston is an extraordinary opportunity for the Twins. Baseballamerica.com lists the five top prospects as outfielder Byron Buxton, catcher Mike Zunino and right-handed pitchers Kyle Zimmer, Mark Appel and Kevin Gausman.

The Twins are struggling on the major and minor league levels to find starting pitching so one of the right-handers could be the choice at No. 2 in the draft. But there’s some bias against taking a pitcher so high for fear of an arm injury. Back in 2001 Twins general manager Terry Ryan passed on super pitching prospect Mark Prior and took catcher Joe Mauer with the first pick in the draft. It was a savvy move as Prior later developed arm problems while Mauer became a three-time batting champion for the Twins.

After returning as general manager during the last off-season, Ryan knows he’s on the spot to produce a great draft next month. He’s got plenty of help, though. Like other major league clubs, the Twins employ a lengthy roster of scouts.

The Twins media guide lists a scouting staff of 55 names. The roster includes director of scouting Deron Johnson and four major league scouts, one advance scout and one professional scout. But most of the scouts are looking for talent not already at the major league level with assignments in the U.S., Australia, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Germany, Italy, Panama,Venezuela and other countries.

That global commitment is documented by the organization’s roster of foreign born players as of 2011: Aruba, 1; Australia, 10; Canada, 5; Cuba, 1; Czech Republic, 1; Dominican Republic, 36; Germany, 2; Japan, 1; Mexico, 2; Netherlands, 1; Panama, 1; Puerto Rico, 8; South Africa, 1; Taiwan, 3; Venezuela, 31.

The Twins won’t, of course, fill all their personnel needs at next month’s draft. They will just try to secure a big contributor—or two or three—for future seasons, while continuing to look for talent all over the world.

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Worth Noting

Posted on May 23, 2012May 23, 2012 by David Shama

Patrick Klinger, the Twins vice president of marketing, may become a compassionate kidney donor. That means he would be willing to provide one of his kidneys to someone he doesn’t know.

A couple of years ago Klinger went through three days of testing at the Mayo Clinic to determine if a portion of his liver would be compatible for transfer to a college friend. Klinger wasn’t a match but a liver from a cadaver saved his friend’s life.

Earlier this year Klinger was ready to donate a kidney to former Twins player and manager Frank Quilici. A woman who is a family friend was a better match and about one week ago Quilici had successful surgery.

“I just think what greater gift can you give than the gift of life,” Klinger said.

The Twins, who are averaging about 33,000 fans per game at home, are likely to see an increase in attendance during June not only because schools will dismiss for summer vacation, but three teams with box office appeal, the Brewers, Cubs and Phillies, will be in town. Ticket inventory, Klinger said, is tight for those games.

Former Twins outfielder Mickey Hatcher, who was in his 13^th season as Angels hitting coach, was fired last week. The Angels rank No. 26 among major league teams in runs scored with 159.

The St. Thomas baseball team plays Christopher Newport from Newport News, Virginia on Friday in the Division III Baseball College World Series in Appleton, Wisconsin. The Tommies are 38-8 while their opponent is 34-8. The Tommies are in pursuit of their first national championship since 2009. The championship game will be played on Tuesday.

Minnesota State plays Southern New Hampshire on Saturday in the Division II Baseball College World Series in Cary, North Carolina. The Mavericks are 48-10 this season while Southern New Hampshire is 42-13. The tournament is double elimination as is the Division III competition. The Mavericks have made 31 NCAA tournament appearances.

Ricky Rubio received the second most points in voting by NBA head coaches when they determined the league’s All-Rookie team, announced yesterday. The Wolves point guard was second in points, 49, to Cleveland point guard Kyrie Irving who had 58. Wolves rookie forward Derrick Williams made the All-Rookie second team.

The Gophers football schedule for the 2015 and 2016 seasons (released on Monday) includes games against Ohio State in Minneapolis and Columbus. It’s the first time the Buckeyes have been on the Gophers schedule since 2010. Ohio State leads the series against Minnesota 43-7.

Only one date was left open on the schedules, the September 19, 2015 slot where the Gophers are still looking for a nonconference opponent, probably at home.

It was 10 years ago yesterday that former Gophers athletic director Paul Giel died. “If 100 people met Paul they wouldn’t like him. They would love him,” his friend Harvey Mackay said.

Former WCCO TV anchor Don Shelby has nearly 5,000 friends on Facebook, and he’s receiving well wishes for his May 27^th birthday.

The Wild are aggressively shopping their No. 7 pick in the first round of the June 22 NHL draft, a pro hockey source told Sports Headliners. “I hear they’re willing to take offers for an established or established players,” he said.

The Wild could also trade the pick to acquire additional draft choices, although that doesn’t seem as likely. The team is badly in need of scorers, and also lacks “leadership in the clubhouse,” according to the source.

“If you watch any of the playoffs you can see how far away the Wild are (from being a post-season team),” he said. The source’s opinion is the Wild needs “three or four” good players to be more equal with at least some playoff clubs.

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Worth Noting

Posted on May 21, 2012May 21, 2012 by David Shama

Tom Lehman, Fred Couples and 18 more of the top 20 players on the Champions Tour will compete in the 3M Championship in Blaine July 30-August 5. Arnold Palmer will also participate. Lehman, the Minnesota native, tied for second in last year’s tournament behind champion Jay Haas.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill expects today or tomorrow to see the classroom grades of his players from last semester. Kill and his staff have worked with players to significantly improve academic performance but that’s no guarantee there won’t be disappointments. “It’s one day at a time,” he said.

Kill hopes his players, including the quarterbacks, will volunteer their time to workout during the off-season this spring and summer. It’s not mandatory, but quarterbacks MarQueis Gray, Max Shortell, Phillip Nelson and Mitch Leidner are likely to be throwing to Gophers receivers in the weeks ahead.

Nelson and Leidner are freshmen but Kill said no decision has been made on redshirting. “We’ll make those decisions after two-a-days end,” Kill said referring to scheduled practices in August.

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi said it’s “inevitable” college football will go to a national championship playoff. “It’s what the public wants,” he told Sports Headliners.

Gophers women’s basketball coach Pam Borton promoted Curtis Loyd to associate head coach. Loyd joined the staff as an assistant coach in 2010 and is credited with improving Minnesota’s defense. Last season the Gophers held opponents to a program record low field goal percentage of .375.

It will be 20 years ago this summer the Dream Team that included Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan competed in the 1992 basketball Olympics. The Timberwolves’ Christian Laettner was on that team.

The Wild will have an 18-community promotional trip that includes players and other celebrities. The trip begins June 25 and ends June 28. www.wild.com

Hamline is sending three men and three women to next weekend’s NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships in Claremont, California including senior Devin Monson who ranks among the five best performers nationally in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

Former Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek, born in Minneapolis, celebrates his 52^nd birthday today.

The Twins will see former teammate Orlando Hudson when they open a three-game series tomorrow night in Chicago against the White Sox. The second baseman was released by San Diego last week but signed with the White Sox. He’s playing with his fifth major league club in five years.

Major League Baseball just finished its first weekend of Interleague baseball this season. Next season, with Houston switching from the National League to the American, there will be Interleague play throughout the season.

The Twins, who won two of three Interleague games against the Brewers in Milwaukee Friday-Sunday, are 150-117 in Interleague competition, among the best records in baseball.

By the way, who was the last Twins pitcher to hit a home run?

Jim Kaat in 1972.

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