Although the Twins have asked potential staff ace Francisco Liriano to start the season in the minor leagues, pitching coach Rick Anderson is enthusiastic about the recovery process of the 24-year-old left hander who had elbow surgery and missed all of last season.

Anderson was asked by Sports Headliners yesterday how close Liriano is to physically being where he was prior to the elbow surgery in 2006.  “Oh, shoot, that’s tough (to answer),” Anderson said. “He’s close. …”

Liriano, who was 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 2006, will pitch for Class A Fort Myers later this week.  He’s also targeted for a start next week pitching for another Twins’ farm team, Class AAA Rochester.

Before spring training started Anderson and others in Twins management couldn’t be sure what kind of a product they had in Liriano.  “You know what?” Anderson asked.  “From his first outing to his last one, it was night and day (the improvement).  He got better every single outing.  Is he there? Not yet.  Close, a lot closer than he was his outing before. …If he continues to improve like he has it won’t be long (before he joins the Twins).”

Liriano could be pitching for the Twins this month.  Anderson said Liriano’s change up is “better” than two years ago.  In Liriano’s final spring training outing late last week his fastball was the “same” as 2006, clocking in at 91 to 93 miles per hour, according to Anderson.

“His slider is still not there yet,” Anderson said.  “You see it once in awhile.  That’s the last pitch to come. …”

In five starts for the Twins this spring, Liriano was 2-2, with a 4.02 ERA (15.2 innings pitched, seven earned runs). He allowed 14 hits with nine walks and 15 strikeouts.

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On a short list of questions about the Minnesota Wild’s playoff prospects is whether this team has the physical toughness to last beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Last year the Wild took an early exit against a more physical Anaheim team. Now, however, there’s opinion inside and outside the Wild organization that Minnesota can play more physical hockey.

The late season acquisition of forward Chris Simon was controversial because of Simon’s history of on-ice aggressiveness.  A lot of fans and media caused a critical uproar over the Simon acquisition but he will be judged more positively if the Wild advance deep in the playoffs and he avoids incidents that are worthy of YouTube.

The Wild’s leading scorer, Marian Gaborik, told Sports Headliners on Saturday that Minnesota is “definitely tougher” than last year.  In the same breath he mentioned  Simon along with other team enforcers, Derek Boogaard, and Todd Fedoruk. “These guys are there to protect us,” Gaborik said.  “They’re doing a good job and they’re playing well.  And that’s what we need.”

The energy and intensity with which teams compete in the playoffs results in a more conservative, defensive, physical style.  “It’s a totally different level of hockey,” Gaborik said.  “It’s a big challenge.  Big competition.  You have to just go out there and work your butt off, and be ready mentally and physically.”

Gaborik, whose famous groin problems in the past have limited his playing time, has played in 75 games this season.  He has set a new single season career record with 80 points.

Gaborik said his physical status is “all good” now.  He also said off-season exercises, along with properly warming up before playing, and massage on his legs, have all been successful parts of his prevention program.

The Wild finish the regular season with games on April 3 and 6, then await the playoffs.  They are fourth in the Western Conference standings and first in the Northwest Division.

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The Twins will measure themselves against their Central Division rivals in April, playing each of their rival four teams.  Minnesota faces division opponents in 16 of its first 28 games.  The Twins play seven straight dates starting with tonight’s opener at home with Los Angeles.

The 2008 Miller Lite Vikings’ Draft Party will be Saturday, April 26 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and general admission tickets go on sale tomorrow, according to the team’s Web site, www.vikings.com.  The event will be in the Winter Park field house with Vikings players and cheerleaders in attendance.  Tickets are $10 in advance, or $15 on April 26.   Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com, at the Vikings’ ticket office in the Metrodome, or the Vikings’ Locker Room store locations.  The Vikings have the 17^th pick on the first round.

University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks told Sports Headliners during an interview that his long term plan to improve recreational and intercollegiate facilities could possibly provide a basketball practice facility for coach Tubby Smith.  The facility might be used both for recreational activities and basketball.

Bruininks said a new baseball stadium, to be located on the present Siebert Field site, may cost about $10 million.  Private fund-raising for the stadium has to increase; and he declined to set a date for completion of the facility.

Bruininks enjoys watching various sports including baseball.  His father umpired years ago in the women’s professional baseball league.

His salary is approximately $438,000 while football coach Tim Brewster makes $1 million and Smith earns $1.8 million.  As Bruininks looks at the college “arms race” in salaries where compensation levels for coaching is pushing near or beyond $4 million, he has concerns.  He won’t pay salaries at that level.

Brewster and his staff are hosting high school football coaches for a fish fry dinner preceded by a Gopher scrimmage on Friday, April 11.  More information is available by calling the Gopher football office, 612-624-6004.

Brewster talking about quarterback Adam Weber who was named to the Sporting News freshman All-American team last season:  “Adam has the potential to be one of the top quarterbacks in the country as he progresses.”

If it’s been a few weeks since you drove by the TCF Bank Stadium, you will be impressed with how much structure there is to the new stadium that opens in the summer of 2009.

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