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

Worth Noting

Posted on February 28, 2012February 28, 2012 by David Shama

Former Gopher Phil Kessel, now with Toronto, is listed first in an NHL players poll regarding All-Star caliber players “easiest to intimidate,” according to the February 20 issue of Sports Illustrated.

Hopkins High School junior forward Nia Coffey, a top 100 recruit, has verbally committed to Northwestern in the Big Ten Conference, according to the Lakeshore Weekly News website. She is the daughter of former Gophers forward Richard Coffey.

The Gophers basketball team, losers of five consecutive games, plays at Wisconsin(10-6 in the Big Ten) tonight. Minnesota(5-11) lacked energy, focus and confidence in an embarrassing 69-50 home loss toIndiana(9-7) on Sunday.

After the game guard Chip Armelin said the losing streak is a liability to team confidence and it challenges players to support each other. Coach Tubby Smith didn’t like the effort of his players including leading scorer Rodney Williams who had only three points in the game. Smith said Williams wasn’t “engaged” and didn’t earn his shot attempts.

Indiana coach Tom Crean was pleased to see Williams not hurt his team. “He’s gonna be about the best athlete going into a gym anytime,” Crean said.

Crean’s wife Joani, the sister of mega-intense football coaches Jim and John Harbaugh, attended the post-game press conference—unusual for a spouse.

Although game attendance was about 3,000 less than capacity at Williams Arena (14,625), a Gophers season ticket holder sold his two row three tickets near the Indiana bench for $170 each via StubHub last week.

The Gophers basketball banquet will be next Sunday evening in the DQ Club Room at TCF Bank Stadium. The cost is $60 per person and more information is available by calling 612-625-3085.

The Gophers athletic department announced a grassroots fundraising drive for the new on-campus baseball stadium. The Gophers are playing their 2012 home schedule at the Metrodome except for a May 1 Siebert Field finale against St. Thomas. John Anderson is in his 31^st season as Minnesota coach.

An estate sale at the late Harmon Killebrew’s home in Scottsdale, Arizona was held last Saturday. Items included sports memorabilia, clothing and furniture.

The Twins were No. 25 among major league teams in Bleacherreport.com’s power rankings heading into spring training. That’s lowest among all Central Division teams including Kansas City.

The NFL Scouting Combine ends today in Indianapolis. Among the headlines coming out of the combine, where over 300 prospects were invited, is the 2012 draft will be deep in athletic offensive linemen. The Vikings, with the third pick in the first round, could certainly improve by drafting USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil but other offensive line prospects that could help Minnesota figure to be available later in the draft.

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Worth Noting

Posted on February 24, 2012February 24, 2012 by David Shama

Using a search committee for administrative and coaching hires has been typical at Minnesota, although there was no such committee in 2010 when football coach Jerry Kill was hired.

Twins first baseman Chris Parmelee turns 24 today. With so many questions about Justin Morneau’s health, fans may wonder if Parmelee could play even more games than he did (21) during his rookie season last year. Parmelee hit .355 with four home runs and 14 RBI.

It wouldn’t be surprising if this is pitcher Francisco Liriano’s last season with the Twins. He’s working on a one-year contract reportedly worth $5.5 million. If the inconsistent 28-year-old left hander has a similar season to last year (9-10, 5.09 ERA), the Twins may have minimal interest in re-signing him. If Liriano were to approach his electrifying 2006 stats that included a 2.16 ERA, he presumably could command a contract too rich for the Twins.

Former Gophers golfer and New York Times best selling author Harvey Mackay was featured on a recent cover of Speaker, the magazine of the National Speakers Association. The article said Mackay speaks “about once a week to Fortune 500-size companies and associations.”

The Big Ten is the best basketball conference in the country, according to a February 20 article in Sports Illustrated. The story praises the execution, toughness and defense of Big Ten teams.

“I’d almost bet my life…the Big Ten is as good as it’s been in a long time, top to bottom,” said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo when he was in Minneapolis on Wednesday night.

Gophers coach Tubby Smith talking about his team’s 66-61 loss to Michigan State on Wednesday night: “We just folded at the end of the game.”

The Gophers are 5-10 in the Big Ten, 17-11 overall and have lost four consecutive games. “He (Smith) coached better than I did,” Izzo said. “They’re good enough to be in the tourney.”

Gophers’ women’s basketball guard Rachel Banham ranks sixth in Big Ten scoring at 16.3 points per game and first among league freshmen.

Larry Bird told ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons in a February 8 interview he’s an admirer of the Timberwolves twosome of Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love. Bird played on three NBA championship teams in Boston including the 1986 team that ranks with the best for passing and unselfish play. Rubio and Love would fit perfectly on that team.

Love will be the first Timberwolf ever to participate in the NBA’s three point contest when he competes tomorrow in Orlando as part of All-Star Weekend activities.

Rookie forward Derrick Williams will be in the slam dunk contest tomorrow.

This week’s National Junior College Athletic Association poll has coach Jay Pivec’s first year Dakota County Technical College team ranked No. 8 in the country among Division II men’s teams.

The Wild will wear custom-designed camouflage jerseys during warm-ups on Sunday prior to Minnesota’s home game against San Jose. The jerseys will be available for bid via online auction starting Tuesday at www.wild.com. Proceeds benefit Defending The Blue Line, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization created by Minnesota National Guard soldiers. The charity assists military families with costs associated with hockey.

State tennis historian and author Jim Holden reported via email that Kevin Rust, the former coach at Rochester Lourdes, has been inducted into the Minnesota State High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame.

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Farm Team Beckons Twins Fans

Posted on February 8, 2012February 8, 2012 by David Shama

Minnesota baseball fans are known for their road trips to watch the Twins in cities like Milwaukee and Kansas City but no doubt some are bound for Beloit, Wisconsin next summer.

The Beloit Snappers, the Twins Class A farm team, has much publicized prospects Miguel Sano (third base), Levi Michael (shortstop) and Eddie Rosario (second base) on the roster. Jim Rantz, Twins senior director for minor league operations, has heard the talk about Beloit road trips by fans. “I’ve had people stop me and say, ‘Sounds like we need to make a trip to Beloit this year,’ ” Rantz told Sports Headliners.

Mlb.com’s top 2012 prospects has Sano ranked No. 23 in a top 100 listing. That’s better than any other player in the Twins organization but Rantz was “surprised” the 18-year-old Dominican Republic native didn’t receive even a higher ranking.

Last fall Sporting News Magazine listed Sano and Washington’s Bryce Harper as its two top candidates for 2012 Minor League Player of the Year. Sano is known for his power and in just 267 at bats for Elizabethton hit 20 home runs last year. In an October interview with Sports Headliners Rantz said if Sano “does not get hurt and progresses like he has been, he is a can’t miss guy.”

Rosario impressed a lot last season, too, and he’s intriguing because the former center fielder is being moved to second base. The 20-year-old was a teammate of Sano and hit 21 home runs in 270 at-bats.

“He will play second base because of all the center fielders (in the organization) we have coming along,” Rantz said. “I know there’s a lot of buzz about both these guys (Sano and Rosario).”

Michael was the Twins first pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. Michael, who turns 21 tomorrow, has Rantz and other Twins officials anxious to see him play at Beloit because injuries in 2011 limited their evaluation of the promising infielder.

The Mlb.com prospect listing had one other player from the Twins in the top 100, center fielder Aaron Hicks. The 2007 No. 1 draft choice was ranked No. 72. “He’s a heck of an athlete,” Rantz said. “He’s a scratch golfer and a lot of organizations took him as a pitcher.”

Mlb.com said the switch hitting Hicks batted only .258 hitting right-handers in the Arizona Fall League but hit .361 versus left-handers. Rantz said the 22-year-old will play for Class AA New Britain this season. “He’s got a chance to do it from both sides,” Rantz said.

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