There’s no doubt Joe Mauer and the Twins will one day look at moving the superstar catcher to third base. At 26, there’s no chance of that happening next season but a Mauer move to third in 2010 could set up an intriguing infield. Mauer at third, Orlando Cabrera at shortstop, Justin Morneau at first base and prize third base prospect Danny Valencia converted into a second baseman. Then move sweet hitting Jose Morales (.343 average in 32 games with the Twins) behind the plate.
ESPN The Magazine’s August 10 issue claims Yadier Molina of the Cardinals is baseball’s best catcher but the publication also says Mauer is among the most difficult to steal bases on.
Former Minneapolis Lakers coach John Kundla, who won five pro basketball championships, was among a panel asked by the Sporting News magazine to rank the 50 greatest American coaches ever. Former Gophers football player Bud Wilkinson ranked No. 29 because of his coaching career at Oklahoma, and Herb Brooks was listed at No. 50 in an article in the August 3 issue. Brooks was a coaching genius and deserved a better listing than last after a career that included the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” and three national championships with the hockey Gophers. Bud Grant, who coached the Vikings in four losing Super Bowls, and Tom Kelly, who won two World Series as Twins manager, didn’t make the list. Top five were UCLA’s John Wooden, Green Bay’s Vince Lombardi, Alabama’s Paul Bryant, Los Angeles’ Phil Jackson and Miami’s Don Shula.
Official capacity for TCF Bank Stadium is 50,805. All seven home games during the first season are considered sellouts but tickets are expected to be available on the Monday preceding some games. That’s because visiting teams are allocated 3,000 tickets and not all schools are expected to use the full inventory.
A Gophers spokesman said 9,185 block M’s are displayed in various parts of the stadium.
The Gophers public relations department will, as usual, produce a printed media guide but Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin will have electronic versions only. The NBA told its franchises they have the option for next season of electronic only, too. The Timberwolves will opt for electronic only.
It was eight years ago this month that Vikings’ tackle Korey Stringer died from heatstroke complications. His widow, Kelci, works with the NFL on a heat prevention illness program.
As of Wednesday, a Vikings spokesman reported single game tickets remain for all 2009 home games including Green Bay and Chicago.
Don’t be surprised if John David Booty becomes a serious option at quarterback this season for the Vikings.