Hall of famer Harmon (“Killer”) Killebrew told Sports Headliners on Wednesday that the Twins have a great hitting and fielding team, but will be tested in their weekend series that starts tonight in New York against the Yankees.

Although the Twins won the Central Division championship last year, they couldn’t defeat the Yankees in a single game during 2009 including three playoff games.  In regular season games the Twins are 14-41 against the Yankees since 2002 and 3-23 at Yankee Stadium.

Killebrew, who played 14 seasons with the Twins and remains close to the organization, doesn’t fuss over the past, emphasizing this is a new season and ballclub.  He agrees, though, the weekend series with the Yankees, a return series in Minneapolis later this month and a May 19-20 series in Boston will let the Twins know more about their ball club.

“I think so because you have to look at the Yankees as a standard in the American League,” he said. “I think they know they (the Twins) can beat any club in baseball right now.  If they can play well in this series coming up against the Yankees I think it will mean a lot for this season.”

Killebrew said “good pitching” usually bests “good hitting” and the Twins staff will likely determine how much this year’s team accomplishes.  “We have a great defensive ball club,” he said.  “We have a great hitting ball club, and we do have some really good pitchers.”

The Twins, 22-12, lead the Central Division, while New York has the same record and is in second place in the East.  There’s much opinion that the 2009 World Series champion Yankees are still among the best teams in baseball.  ESPN Power rankings list the Rays No. 1, followed by the Yankees and Twins.  https://espn.go.com/mlb/powerrankings

Killebrew is impressed with the Twins’ depth and the club has won despite injuries that have sidelined several players including pitchers Joe Nathan (out for the season), Jose Mijares and Pat Neshek, plus catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau, second baseman Orlando Hudson, shortstop J.J. Hardy (on the disabled list) and third baseman Nick Punto.

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Killebrew plans to call and congratulate Jim Thome after Thome ties or exceeds Killebrew’s career home run total of 573.  What will Killebrew say?

“I passed up a lot of guys myself.  Don’t feel bad about it,” Killebrew answered.

Thome, 39, has five home runs in his first season with the Twins.  He needs four more to tie Killebrew’s 573 that ranks 10^th on baseball’s career home run list.

Killebrew, who is the Twins’ all-time home run leader, was asked about Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, three sluggers whose names have been associated with steroids but rank first, sixth and ninth on baseball’s all-time home run list. Killebrew said the accusations “changed the whole complexion of baseball.”

“Baseball is predicated on statistics…and this has changed the history of the game forever,” he said. “I don’t know what they’re going to do.  I’ve even talked to the commissioner and he’s at a loss to know how to completely handle this situation as well.”

Killebrew said Senator Jim Bunning, a former big league pitcher, has been outspoken about players who use performance enhancing drugs.  He’s called for obliteration of their records but Killebrew said how does anyone know what statistics were compiled while using drugs?

“It’s a cloud over baseball that shouldn’t be there,” Killebrew said.  “It’s such a beautiful game and to have that over the game of baseball…it makes you sad.”

Killebrew, who makes his home in Arizona, will be in town later this month to host the 7^th Annual Kwik Trip Harmon Killebrew Classic on May 23 and 24.  The classic will benefit the Twins Community Fund and the Miracle League of Minnesota.  The fund provides resources for community baseball and softball.  The Miracle League provides children with mental and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball as a team member in an organized league.

Tickets are available to the public for a dinner and auction starting at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 23 at the Target Field.  The cost is $150 per person or $1,000 for ten. Killebrew will greet all who attend.  Silent and live auctions will feature a variety of items including baseball memorabilia for collectors and fans.  The celebrity golf tournament  Monday, May 24 is sold out.  For more information and to see auction lists, visit www.harmonkillebrewfoundation.org.

Helping others has been part of Killebrew’s makeup for a long time.  The Miracle League inspires him.  He recalled a story told to him about a Miracle League youngster in another state who while playing in a game made it all the way to third base in a wheelchair.  Then the inspired youngster got on his belly and crawled to home plate.  “The physical therapist said it was worth a year’s work just playing that one situation with the Miracle League game,” Killebrew said.

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Since May 21, 2009 the White Sox are 3-10 in games with the Twins that have been decided by two runs or less.  The White Sox lost to the Twins 3-2 on Wednesday and are eight games back of first place Minnesota in the Central Division.

Former Twins pitcher Glen Perkins is 0-4 with an 10.72 ERA pitching for AAA Rochester.

Local sports writer and announcer Dave Wright will be in Las Vegas next Wednesday signing copies of his new book, 162-0.  The book is about the greatest wins in Twins history and came out six weeks ago.  About 760 books have been sold so far.

The Gophers announced earlier this week that football season ticket holders can purchase tickets for the team’s five away games.  It’s easy to spot the bargain with Middle Tennessee State tickets priced at $25 each.  Wisconsin and Michigan State tickets are $49 each, Purdue $46 and Illinois $45.

Lynx point guard Lindsay Whalen and teammate Seimone Augustus are two of the top paid players in the WNBA earning about $110,000 each per season, the league maximum.  Many players play in Europe during the WNBA off-season but salaries are about half what they earn in America.

Whalen, 28, is one of the WNBA’s best point guards and figures to help the Lynx compete with the better teams in the league.  Her impact goes beyond the court, though, and franchise officials are crediting the former Gopher for more interest among ticket buyers.  Season ticket sales are expected to reach about 2,000, several hundred more than last year, according to Lynx chief operating officer Conrad Smith.

Single game and group ticket sales will increase in 2010.  WNBA teams rely on game day ticket buyers and the club hopes to sometimes sell 1,000 walk-up tickets.

The Lynx open the regular season tomorrow in Tulsa against former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson.  The Lynx home opener is Sunday against Washington with a 6 p.m. start at Target Center.  Attendance could exceed 10,000 for the opener.

The Timberwolves are interested in re-signing 7-foot center Darko Milicic who ended the last weeks of the season in Minneapolis after coming here from the Knicks. That interest will be contingent on Milicic accepting a salary for less money than this past season, according to an NBA source.

Milicic was treated much better by Wolves fans than in previous NBA stops, according to the same source who spoke anonymously.  That could be a factor in Milicic re-signing with the Wolves rather than playing in Europe.

The Wolves might have a new European center in Nikola Pekovic who was chosen in the second round of the 2008 draft, but so far has remained overseas.   He’s contractually available to play for the Wolves next season.  At 6-11, he’s a low post player and not Milicic’s equal as a shot blocker.  Because he was a second round pick, Pekovic can command open market money on a contract with the Wolves.

If former Wolves executive Fred Hoiberg doesn’t make it as a successful head coach in his new assignment at Iowa State he might try Hollywood.  He looks like a young Harrison Ford.  See photo at right.

Minnesota Wild prospect Kris Foucault had 16 points in 23 playoff games to help the Calgary Hitmen win the Ed Chynoweth Cup and become Western Hockey League champions. The Hitmen will open play Saturday in the MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament, the top competition in Canadian junior hockey.

Fans can enter a contest at Wild.com to have this summer’s Wild Road Tour kick off at their house. The Wild will have players and broadcasters on a state road tour visiting various communities.  This summer’s road tour will stop in 18 cities from June 21-24.

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