The Twins front office is preparing for its groundbreaking event at the new baseball stadium site on August 2. “We’re still obviously planning,” said team president Dave St. Peter. “I think that it will be certainly bigger in scope than your traditional groundbreaking and I think it should be. I think it’s a chance for the community to come together.”
St. Peter told Sports Headliners that a concert will be part of the event and VIP’s may include baseball commissioner Bud Selig, governor Tim Pawlenty, Twins catcher Joe Mauer, first baseman Justin Morneau and team alums Tony Oliva, Paul Molitor and Kent Hrbek. Up to 25 current and former Twins are expected to attend the event which begins at 5 p.m. with the groundbreaking ceremonies at 7 p.m.
Carlos Silva, 6-8 after winning yesterday against Toronto, is 3-1 in his last four starts with a 2.90 ERA in those games. The Twins stole three bases in three attempts yesterday and have now made good on 85 percent of their steals.
Tim Ryan, son of Twins general manager Terry Ryan, is pitching this summer for the Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League. Tim, who also plays for the Gophers, had a 0-0 record with a 5.06 ERA in about 10 innings of work, according to stats listed earlier this week on the Mankato team’s web site.
Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi, who resides near downtown, said basketball coach Tubby Smith will live across the alley from him but hasn’t move into his residence.
The Minnesota Lynx web site lists a 13 player roster and a source reports the team has a $700,000 player payroll.
Sixty-three U.S.-born players, representing a record 30 percent of the total, were selected in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft last week. The previous high was 28.2 percent in 2006.
Over the last three-plus decades the Minnesota High School All-Star Football game has had 57 players who have gone on to play in the NFL including former Gophers Ben Utecht and Marion Barber III. This year’s game will be played tomorrow starting at 7 p.m. at St. Cloud State University. FSN North will televise the game live.