Twins catcher Joe Mauer has won a 2010 American League Rawlings Gold Glove Award®. He also won the award, annually voted on by the league’s managers and coaches, in 2008 and 2009. Mauer joins Jim Kaat (11), Torii Hunter (7), Kirby Puckett (6) and Gary Gaetti (4) as the only Twins players with three-or-more Rawlings Gold Glove Awards®.
Twins general manager Bill Smith said on WCCO Radio’s Sports Huddle Sunday that Francisco Liriano will not pitch in winter baseball. He did pitch winter ball during the last off season and had a tired arm during the 2010 major league season.
Smith also said that first baseman Justin Morneau is still recovering from his concussion.
Fans are waiting with fingers crossed to see if the Twins will acquire a power pitcher to give them a true No. 1 starter, something the team was without last season.
Gophers senior Blake Hoffarber is on the regional cover of Athlon Sports’ college basketball preview magazine along with Iowa’s Matt Gatens and Fred Hoiberg, the new Iowa Sate coach. The magazine forecast the Gophers will finish sixth in the Big Ten Conference standings but went to press before it was known high potential forward Trevor Mbakwe would be eligible.
Sporting News Magazine, in its November 8 issue, projects the Gophers for a sixth place finish and includes Minnesota among seven league teams that will make the NCAA tournament. The publication labeled Hoffarber the conference’s “best shooter.”
The Gophers home game against Siena next Monday has been switched to an 8 p.m. start at ESPN’s request for its telecast.
In its mid-season NFL review the November 8 issue of Sports Illustrated predicted the Vikings won’t make the playoffs, and Green Bay will win the Super Bowl, 14-9 over the Jets.
It’s incorrect to believe that Brad Childress made the decision by himself within the Vikings organization to bring Randy Moss back to Minnesota.
KSTP TV’s Joe Schmit celebrates his 53rd birthday on Friday and WCCO TV’s Mark Rosen celebrates his 59th on Saturday.
Lou Nanne will be autographing copies of his new book, A Passion to Win, at the Wild game on November 24. Other promotional dates for the former North Stars executive and player are: Barnes & Noble, Ridgedale, November 26, noon to 2 p.m.; Sears Rotunda at MOA, November 27, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Borders, Woodbury, November 28, 2 to 4 p.m. and Borders, Rosedale, November 29, 6 to 8 p.m.
The MIAC women’s hockey league schedule opens tomorrow. In a conference coaches poll, Gustavus, coached by Mike Carroll, was picked to win the title for a seventh consecutive season.
Lynx chief operating officer Conrad Smith has represented the franchise twice in the last two years at the WNBA Draft Lottery and won the first overall selection both times. Glen Taylor’s other team, the Timberwolves, has never won the first pick. “I am available,” Smith quipped.
The Wolves’ Kevin Love has six double-doubles in eight games this season including a 23 point, 24 rebound performance last night against the Lakers.
Triton High School football coach Don Henderson goes for his 200th win on Saturday in a class 2A quarterfinal game against Maple Lake at Lakeville North. His career coaching record is 199-62-0.