Twins starting pitcher Carl Pavano, 9-6, has a 1.83 ERA in his last five starts. His season ERA is 3.30. Teammate Scott Baker is 6-2, with a 3.06 ERA in nine home games but 1-5 with a 6.55 ERA in eight road starts.
Wally the Beerman turns 76 on August 11 but he’s still selling beer in the Target Field stands (sections 100-108) for every Twins home game.
Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves’ fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft, has financial incentive to come here and play for the 2011-12 season. The NBA collective bargaining agreement is up for negotiation next summer and with the nation’s poor economic environment owners are expected to push hard for less compensation to players. If Rubio signs prior to the expiration of the existing collective bargaining agreement, it’s likely he will receive a better contract than if he waits another couple of years.
By next year Rubio’s contract buyout from his Spanish team will be under $2 million, much less than it has been to leave for the NBA. Can the Wolves make a possibly reluctant Rubio play for them instead of another league team? In the Wolves’ favor is that for Rubio to go back into the NBA draft he needs to sit out a full year of professional basketball.
Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn wouldn’t speculate as to how much his roster will turn over between now and the opening of the regular season but another franchise insider said 50 percent might be possible.
Wolves lottery pick Wesley Johnson chose uniform No. 4 because he has that many nieces and nephews.
The Timberwolves will begin play in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Monday. Johnson and other players are expected to play in games on July 12 (San Antonio), July 14 (Sacramento), July 16 (Memphis), July 17 (Portland) and July 18 (Atlanta). The team’s summer league roster includes 2009 draft choices Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington, and undrafted former Gophers Damian Johnson and Lawrence Westbrook.
Forward Mikael Granlund, the Wild’s first-round pick in last month’s NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, might also be at next June’s draft in St. Paul. Granlund’s brother, Markus, plays for the Helsinki junior team and will be draft eligible next summer.
Mikael’s skill has been praised by the media, with the Red Line Report naming him the “most imaginative playmaker” in the draft. He was impressive in the Finnish Elite League, where he was a 17-year-old playing professionally against 30-somethings. He had 40 points in 43 games last season, leading all league rookies in points and being named Rookie of the Year. Compare that to Wild captain Mikko Koivu, chosen No. 6 overall in 2001, who had one assist in 21 games in the Finnish Elite League and also spent time in the junior leagues prior to being drafted. Granlund was the No. 9 overall draft pick in 2010.
Forward Jason Zucker, the Wild’s fourth selection in the recent draft (second round No. 59 overall), became the first Nevada-trained player to be drafted in NHL history.