Twins – Page 203 – David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Worth Noting

Posted on December 8, 2011December 29, 2011 by David Shama

Although not popular with the masses, Matt Capps might be of more help to the Twins next season than anticipated. He was targeted by boo-bird fans last season (4-7, 4.25 ERA), but he had a sore right forearm. Capps has sometimes achieved impressive numbers as a big league closer. He had ERA’s of 2.28 and 3.02 with Pittsburgh and 2.74 for Washington before joining the Twins.

The Twins have acquired right-handed pitcher Daniel Turpen from the Rockies as the player to be named later in the Kevin Slowey trade. Turpen, 25, had a 2-4 record and 4.83 ERA with 11 saves in 48 appearances (one start) at Double-A Tulsa last season. He will be assigned to Triple-A Rochester’s roster.

With a 7-2 record and goals against average of 2.14 and save percentage of .932, Josh Harding is probably the Wild’s MVP so far. Harding has seven of the team’s 18 victories and helped the Wild to the most wins and points in the NHL. He’s been given the most extensive playing time in his career by new coach Mike Yeo.

This team is building confidence by the week, receives scoring from various players and has shown a franchise-rare ability to come from behind in wins. The Wild have won five straight games and play the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday night.

At home the team has sold-out only two games, the opener and the day after Thanksgiving game, according to a Sports Headliners source. Past disappointments, high price tickets, and even HDTV are reasons the franchise that used to automatically post sell-out signs is no longer doing so. The Wild haven’t made the playoffs for three years.

Coach Don Lucia’s Gophers hockey team, 13-4-1, is the only team in the country with 13 wins. Minnesota has 20 WCHA points for the first time in 12 games since the 2006-07 season. The Gophers, 10-2 in the WCHA, host Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday nights.

Ch. 23 will show Saturday afternoon’s St. Thomas-UW-Whitewater Division III football semifinals playoff game from Whitewater, Wisconsin. The telecast will be produced and shown nationally on the ESPN3.com Website. The game can also be heard on WCCO Radio.

Tommies coach Glenn Caruso is a Division III finalist for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. This is the first time in St. Thomas history the football team has advanced to the Division III semifinals.

Concordia, St. Paul senior offensive left tackle Tyler Hendrickson is a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year award. Last year Hendrickson, from St. Paul, finished third in the voting which recognizes the top junior or senior offensive and defensive linemen in the nation. The winner will be announced on January 22.

Defending Class 4A champion Hopkins plays Cretin-Derham Hall starting at 6:45 p.m. on Saturday in one of many games that are part of the Breakdown Tip Off Classic at Minnetonka. That game is on the Main Court while at 7:45 p.m. Tartan and Apple Valley on the West Court.

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Gophers, Twins & Other Notes

Posted on November 18, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Gophers athletic director Joel Maturi had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday but was in the office about 5 a.m. Tuesday. That’s a typical arrival time for him.

GopherIllustrated.com. reports that defensive back Jeremy Baltazar from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas has given a verbal commitment to the Gophers for 2012. He visited campus last weekend.

Cornerback Kyle Henderson, who transferred to the Gophers from Minnesota State-Mankato State, said perhaps six to eight of his former teammates could have played Division I football. “The talent level is not terrible in Division II by any means,” he said.

Because of a commitment to play MarQueis Gray at quarterback, Gophers freshman Max Shortell has been on the field for only a few plays since he started the Michigan game on October 1. Kill said he’s “pleased with the progress” of the 19-year-old quarterback. “…Actually he’s probably farther along than what I thought he would be when he came here,” Kill said. “He’s worked hard.”

Round one of the 32-team NCAA Division III playoffs are about to start and no game has more local interest than St. Thomas hosting St. Scholastica. UST will be at home for the noon start tomorrow and hopes to improve its all-time first-round playoff record to 3-0. The MIAC website reports that the Tommies’ Fritz Waldvogel tied a Division III record by catching a pass in each of 40 career regular season games.

Twins executive Jim Rantz describes newly signed infielder Jamey Carroll as a “young” 37 year old. He said Carroll has taken care of himself and his personality will be a positive in the clubhouse.

Rantz said minor league pitching prospect Kyle Gibson won’t throw with “any velocity” until June or July after his Tommy John surgery. Rantz wouldn’t predict whether Gibson’s recovery schedule will allow him to pitch in organized baseball in 2012.

Max Kepler, the native of Germany who the Twins signed at 16, turns 19 in February and Rantz said the former infielder is considered a prospect at all three outfield positions. It’s possible Kepler will play for the Twins Class A Beloit team next year.

Coach Don Lucia’s No. 1 ranked Gophers hockey team has scored a goal in the last minute of regulation play in five of 12 games this season and only one goal has been an empty-net goal. Seven times this season the Gophers have scored during the last five minutes. Minnesota plays at St. Cloud State tonight and tomorrow night.

The Wild has the second-ranked prospects in the NHL, according to an ESPN Insider story this week. Mentioned in the article were Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin and Johan Larsson. ESPN Insider discounted any player who had begun his entry-level contract.

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Sporting News Makes Twins Prospect POY Candidate

Posted on October 19, 2011November 27, 2011 by David Shama

Jim Rantz has worked in the Twins farm system since 1970 but in four-plus decades has never seen a Twins 18-year-old prospect with the power of Miguel Sano. Word has spread quickly about the Dominican Republic native since the Twins signed him to a contract as a 16-year-old in 2009.

The October 10 issue of Sporting News Magazine lists Washington’s Bryce Harper and Sano as the publication’s top candidates for Minor League Player of the Year in 2012. Rantz, senior director for Twins minor league operations, hadn’t heard about the prediction but sounded more pleased than surprised when told by Sports Headliners.

Sano hit 20 home runs for the Elizabethton minor league team last season and Rantz said Baseball America ranked the power hitting third baseman the best prospect in the Appalachian League. He hit .292 with 59 RBI in 267 at bats in that rookie league.

So how good can Sano become? “I don’t want to go out on a limb and put a monkey on his back and jinx him,” Rantz said. “Let’s put it this way. If he does not get hurt and progresses like he has been, he is a can’t miss guy.”

Rantz said the 6-3 Sano has put on about 35 pounds in the last “couple years,” increasing his weight from 195 to 230. “There is no fat on this kid,” Rantz said.

Sano started out as a shortstop with the Twins organization and might play the position again, according to Rantz. He made 26 errors in half a season with Elizabethton playing, both shortstop and third base. Rantz rates the teenager’s speed only average but Sano does have a strong arm. “He’s got some work to do on defense,” Rantz said.

The Twins are pleased with Sano’s progress in learning English. Rantz believes one day Sano could be a leader on the field.

For now Sano is back in the Dominican Republic but won’t play winter baseball because many of the players are major leaguers. The Twins want to protect his development and won’t bring him to the major league camp in 2012. Rantz expects Sano, who won’t be 19 until next May, will be assigned to the organization’s Class A Beloit team.

“He is something else, especially with the bat,” Rantz said.

That’s what Sporting News believes, too, forecasting that Sano will be in the majors with the power hungry Twins “by the end of 2012.”

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