Worth Noting
In a poll of general managers and
assistant general managers, Mauer was the top vote getter for “best
swing” in major league baseball, according to the January 18 issue of
Sporting News magazine. He was second in voting to Pujols for
“player I’d want on my team.”
The Twins organization was voted the “best
farm system” in baseball.
Jake Mauer said USA Today will
interview him for a story next week. Although Mauer has macular degeneration,
he
still golfs and had a hole-in-one while playing in Florida. Because of
his eyesight it’s unlikely he will return to Canterbury Park in the
spring to sell his handicapping publication.
2010 could be a good season for Twins second
baseman Nick Punto who has alternate years of hitting success.
His batting averages the last five seasons are: .239, .290, .210, .284
and .228.
Gophers football coach Tim Brewster
could talk publicly about his 2010 recruiting class for the first time
yesterday. He said if running back Lamonte
Edwards from Woodbury had played high school football in Florida or
Texas he likely would have had 100 or more scholarship offers.
Brewster also said new recruit Jimmy
Gjere of Irondale is “absolutely one of the top offensive linemen in
the country.” While Brewster wouldn’t name names, it’s likely that
Gjere and Edwards are among a few freshmen who might become starters
next fall.
The Gophers could add another player or
two to the list of 2010 recruits. Brewster thought that if that’s going
to happen it will within a week or so. NCAA rules allow players until
April 1 to sign a national letter of intent.
If stadium legislation is to happen this
year it seems unlikely that any site other than the Metrodome will be
considered for a new Vikings stadium. With existing infrastructure and
so much prior planning, the Metrodome site is the front runner.
Governor Tim
Pawlenty’s decision not to seek re-election presumably places him in
a more comfortable position to lead a stadium effort.
The Minnesota Golf Show will be March
12-14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, a new location after being
at the Metrodome for many years. The show will include a $100,000
putting challenge and a clinic for youngsters. More at
www.minnesotagolfshow.com.
When goalie Wade Dubielewicz filled
in for Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding
on Tuesday night it broke a 234 consecutive games streak by the
two-some. The Wild is the only NHL team to use only two goalies during
that time period, according to Elias Sports Bureau (St. Louis played
10).
Erik
Haula, the Wild’s seventh-round pick in last June’s draft, continues to
impress in his first season in the United States Hockey League. Through
37 games he ranked fourth in USHL scoring with 51 points and third with
a +24 rating.
Fans raised more than $34,000 for the
Minnesota Wild Foundation at the recent Wild Skills Competition by
purchasing event tickets, player autograph cards, raffle tickets and
more.
Gustavus senior forward David Martinson (St. Louis Park)
and St. Thomas senior goalie Lauren Bradel (Bemidji) have
been selected as finalists from the West Region to take participate in
the NCAA Frozen Four Skills Challenge on April 9 in Detroit. Six
position players and two goaltenders representing both genders from the East and West Regions will be selected based on fan voting through
the following website:
http://www.ncaa.com/frozenfourskillschallenge/index.html.
