The Twins are scheduled to open their 2014 schedule a week from today in Chicago against the White Sox, and in news reports the weather could share headline space with the baseball as the teams work their way through a three-game series.
The frost line was being measured in feet—not inches—last week at the White Sox’s home field. Projected Chicago temperatures for this week are mostly in the 30s and 40s, according to Myforecast.com. Next Monday the forecast is for a high of 63 degrees under cloudy skies.
The Twins and White Sox aren’t scheduled a week from tomorrow but on April 2 they have a night game when the temperatures will likely be in the mid-40s to low-50s. Then the series concludes with a day game and the forecasted high is 45 degrees.
The Twins then head to Cleveland for a three-game weekend series including a Friday night game. The weekend forecast predicts the teams will be playing in temps mostly in the 40s, again according to Myforecast.com.
The Twins’ home opener is during the day on Monday, April 7 and the club will play outdoors at Target Field through Thursday, April 12. During that period the Twins have three night games scheduled.
Admittedly, this is an extremely cold spring in many northern U.S. cities, but it’s difficult to understand why teams like the Twins have to play the opening weeks of the season in cold locations including their own stadiums. There are four American League cities that typically have warm weather during the first weeks of April—Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Oakland. Two other AL cities, Toronto and St. Petersburg, have stadiums with roofs. Four others—Baltimore, Kansas City, New York and Seattle—are more likely to have warmer temps in early April than Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and Minneapolis.
That makes 10 AL cities—a clear majority—with more favorable spring weather than five others including Minneapolis.
Twins president Dave St. Peter told Sports Headliners he expects Major League Baseball will look at future scheduling but also said, “Reality is teams have been playing northern outdoor baseball for 100 years.” The Twins have opened their schedules on the road in four of the last five years. “I think the Twins have been treated fairly,” he said.
St. Peter said probably all of baseball’s 30 teams would prefer to open their schedules on the road. By doing so a franchise has extra time to promote and sell tickets for the season opening home series.
Worth Noting
As the Twins finish their final days in spring training, St. Peter is hopeful for an improved roster including better starting pitching. After three consecutive 90-plus losing seasons, expectations are clear. “I fully expect us to be better in terms of wins,” he said.
The Twins announced this morning they have optioned right-handed pitchers Ryan Pressly and Michael Tonkin along with catcher Chris Herrmann to Triple-A Rochester. The Twins have also given right-handed pitcher Matt Guerrier his unconditional release. He is now a free agent.
The club has 29 players in camp: 13 pitchers, 3 catchers (one non-roster), 7 infielders (one non-roster) and 6 outfielders (one non-roster).
Former Twins pitcher Jim Kaat—one of baseball’s best broadcast analysts ever—is 75 but will work games again this year for the MLB Network.
The Gopher baseball team’s home opener is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon against Saint John’s from the MIAC, according to Gophersports.com.
The initial Final Four predictions of CBS TV analysts Seth Davis, Doug Gottlieb and Clark Kellogg are holding up but not perfect after last weekend’s opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. All their teams advanced expect Wichita State. Davis and Kellogg both picked Florida, Michigan State, Wichita State and Wisconsin for the Final Four. Gottlieb’s choices were Arizona, Florida, Louisville and Michigan State.
The Gophers women’s basketball team defeated SMU in a second round WNIT game last night at Williams Arena. Minnesota plays next on Thursday night at South Dakota State, a program the Gophers are 1-4 against historically.
The Gophers men’s team, winners in their second round NIT game against Saint Mary’s yesterday, will play Southern Mississippi tomorrow night at Williams Arena. The Golden Eagles, who defeated Missouri on the road last night, have won eight of their last nine games. The team is 29-6 this season and excels defensively holding opponents to 62.8 points per game. The winner of Wednesday night’s game advances to the semifinals of the NIT in New York on April 1.
Former Gopher guard Chip Armelin plays 13.7 minutes per game for the Golden Eagles and averages 4.9 points per game. He is making 50 percent of his free throws.
Sophomore forward Joey King scored a career high 18 points to lead Minnesota yesterday. King had scored 14 points each of his two previous games—the first time in his career as a Gopher having three consecutive double figures games.
Former Gopher forward Joe Coleman transferred to Saint Mary’s last summer and will be eligible next season to play for the Gaels.
New York University is offering an April 4-6 course on how to negotiate in business that will be taught by former Timberwolves executive David Kahn. Kahn is a 1993 NYU law school graduate.
The Bolder Options youth mentoring organization, headed by former Gophers running back Darrell Thompson, will hold a 20th anniversary celebration event in the DQ Room at TFC Bank Stadium on May 15. The keynote speaker will be Gophers football coach Jerry Kill. More at Trainingforlifedinner.com.
The Vikings Adrian Peterson turned 29 last week. If Peterson can play another six seasons averaging about 1,000 yards per season he will threaten Walter Payton’s place as the NFL’s No. 2 all-time leading rusher. Payton rushed for 16,726 yards and Peterson now has 10,115. Emmitt Smith is No. 1 at 18,355 yards.
I didn’t find my name today when I read the Star Tribune’s page A2 list of famous birthdays. (I am disappointed but not too surprised).
Cheers.