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Tue, 29 Mar 2016 12:17:22 -0500

Auditor Rebecca Otto considering run for governor

Mon, 25 Jan 2016 15:42:57 -0600

State Auditor Rebecca Otto, her husband Shawn Otto, and their springer lab named “Lucy” on their property in Marine on St. Croix on Friday, January 8, 2016. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

On Sunday, the Pioneer Press profiled Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto, who’s run a low-profile office but found herself in the middle of a series of political controversies.

And in the course of her with the Pioneer Press interview, Otto dropped a piece of news about 2018:

“I’m considering running for governor,” she said.

Read the profile here for more on Otto’s background and her political battles.

In parts of her Pioneer Press interview that didn’t make it into the profile, Otto expanded on this interest.

Otto said she’s “been asked and urged by many people to at least consider it” and is taking those urgings seriously.

“My criteria is, can I get something done, would I be effective, do I have the right skillset and could I win?” she said.

She referenced Gov. Mark Dayton and former Gov. Arne Carlson, both former auditors who later became governor.

“The work that you do as the state auditor allows you to understand the finances of all levels of government, how they interact,” she said.

But she acknowledged that being governor is “a huge commitment” — and that there’s “a long line” of potential rivals for the job.

Former House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, told the Pioneer Press’s Rachel E. Stassen-Berger last year that she’s “thinking about running for governor.” Murphy’s doing more than thinking — she’s been traveling the state meeting with activists and raising her profile in advance of the contest.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2010. He told the Mesabi Daily News this week that he hasn’t “ruled out running for governor” but worries that “it’s very difficult for somebody from rural Minnesota to run for governor and win.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Walz also hasn’t ruled it out. Other speculated candidates include House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Attorney General Lori Swanson, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Republican possibilities include U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, businessman and 2014 Senate candidate Mike McFadden, 2014 gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, Republican Party Chair Keith Downey, Sens. Michelle Benson of Ham Lake and House Speaker Kurt Daudt.

This post has been updated to remove a candidate no longer in the running for governor.

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Gophers basketball pregame: Illinois game is a must-win to break the losing streak

Sat, 23 Jan 2016 19:04:30 -0600

Saturday’s game against Illinois is a must-win for the Gophers for different reasons than it normally would be.

We’re not talking about a must-win game for NCAA tournament or any postseason implications. This is a must-win game to break Minnesota’s losing streak before it gets to be really, really long.

The Gophers’ eight straight losses could potentially stretch to 15 in a row if they lose Saturday night against the Illini at Williams Arena.

Why? Because after this game will be the toughest stretch of the Big Ten schedule for Minnesota with a six-game gauntlet that includes home games against Purdue, Michigan and Maryland, and also road games against Indiana, Northwestern and Iowa.

Players know what type of opportunity is right there in front of them. Illinois (9-10, 1-5) is the first Big Ten team the Gophers (6-13, 0-7) have played with a losing overall record. The next one will be Rutgers at home on Feb. 23.

“This is one we feel like we can really get,” freshman guard Dupree McBrayer said. “So we just have to go out and do it, and get this thing rolling. We talk about it every game. I think that’s why we’re getting closer and closer (to winning). We’re not just talking about it, we’re being about it. We’re actually showing some action on the court. Hopefully, this time we can play a perfect game and get our first win.”

I asked Gophers coach Richard Pitino how much it would mean for his team to finally win its first Big Ten game in front of the home crowd. Obviously, some fans have been highly critical of the way this season has gone so far, which I wrote about here.

“We could play in Spain, I wouldn’t care as long as we’re winning,” Pitino said. “I think it’s just important to find a way to get a win. I don’t think it’s rare for fans to be uneasy when you lose. That’s everywhere. So that’s kind of…we’ve always discussed that. That it shouldn’t be the reason why we’re out there playing. It doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate our fans. I think our fans are great. But it’s our fight. That’s something we talk about a lot.”

— Illinois welcomed back 6-foot-11 senior center Mike Thorne Jr. in its last game against Indiana. Thorne, who averages 12.9 points and 8.5 rebounds, finished with nine points and nine rebounds in only 16 minutes. He missed 11 games with a torn meniscus injury. But the Charlotte grad transfer was a beast inside at times in the nonconference season. He had two double-doubles and two 20-point games, including 25 points and 14 rebounds against North Florida.

Thorne might not be ready to be a major inside presence yet, but he’s a mismatch with the Gophers’ smaller lineup of either Joey King or Jordan Murphy at center.

“I think that when he’s in the game, they’re going to him,” Pitino said. “We’ve got to be ready for that. You could tell last game that’s what they were looking to do. He was a good get for them as a fifth-year senior. We know he’s got talent. Obviously he was hurt. The more time he gets back on the court will knock the rust off. We’ve got to be prepared for him obviously.”

— What type of game will we see from senior captains King and Carlos Morris? Morris had a bounce-back game with 14 points and nine rebounds in Wednesday’s 74-69 loss at Michigan. But he scored in double figures only once in five games before that. King had 18 points in his last home game last week against Indiana. But the Eagan native scored just three points for the second time in four games against Michigan. Morris and King haven’t played well in the same game since the loss at Penn State on Jan. 5.

They appeared to be accepting their new role coming off the bench. But it still hasn’t translated into more consistency. King will be back in the starting lineup Saturday for the first time in four games.

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LaVine coy about defending slam dunk title

Sat, 23 Jan 2016 13:01:20 -0600

Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine all but confirmed Saturday that he will defend his slam dunk contest title at all-star weekend Feb. 13.

“Oh, yeah, I don’t know,” LaVine said. “It’s a little bit of a surprise still. I don’t know. I’m going with maybe.”

LaVine burst onto the national spotlight with his 41-inch vertical leap in last year’s event. He became the youngest champion in the event’s 30 years, beating Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Orlando’s Victor Oladipo and Brooklyn’s Mason Plumlee.

A year ago, LaVine was officially announced as a participant in the slam dunk contest 18 days before the NBA all-star weekend event. Tuesday will mark the 18th day before this year’s event at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

LaVine, who has 23 dunks in games this season, said Saturday he hasn’t yet practiced any dunks for the event. “I will probably start practices soon, if it does happen,” he said. “I think I have enough dunks saved to where I know I can go out there and put on a good show.”

In preseason, LaVine said, “If Wiggins is in it, I’m for sure in it.”

LaVine said Saturday that there won’t be a teammate twosome in the event in Wiggins’ hometown.

“Yeah, he ain’t doing that,” LaVine said . “I just put that out there. He don’t want to, so … maybe he don’t want to lose, I don’t know. I mean Andrew has some stuff that we be just messing around, and I can’t do it. He can definitely go up there and win one, too.”

However, Wiggins, who has a team-high 35 dunks this year, and Karl-Anthony Towns will likely be a part of the Rising Star Challenge.

The post LaVine coy about defending slam dunk title appeared first on Timberwolves Now.

South St. Paul Sen. Metzen, one of Legislature’s longest serving, is retiring

Sat, 23 Jan 2016 09:49:07 -0600

After four decades of legislative service, two bouts with lung cancer and a myriad of successes and disappointments, Sen. Jim Metzen, a Democrat from South St. Paul, is calling it quits.

He announced Saturday morning that he would not run for a tenth term in the state Senate, bringing to an end a Capitol career that started with a term in the House in 1974.

“I have always been pragmatic in my approach at the Legislature. When my term is completed it is my hope that my constituents believe I represented them well and those that came in contact with me at the Capitol believe I was fair,” Metzen said in a statement. “No matter if you were a Democrat or Republican, I tried to form friendships and alliances with people.”

During his time in the Capitol, he became president of the Senate and second-in-line to the governership, and chair of a series of committees including banking, government operations, jobs, ethics, employee relations and commerce, which he currently leads.

With an easy laugh and a hail-fellow-well-met attitude, Metzen was an old school lawmaker with close ties to lobbyist, opponents and business.

He is currently in treatment for a recurrence of lung cancer, which has sapped his strength. In a hearing last week, he voted for something he intended to vote against. Republican members of the committee , who felt ill used by previous DFL shenanigans, denied him a chance to re-take the vote.

Despite that, Metzen said last week that he was “doing all right.” He said he started a second round of chemotherapy in December, after a first, stronger, round started in September. Metzen said he found the lower dose of therapy, “bearable.”

Metzen already had a DFL challenger for the seat. School board member Matt Klein said he planned to run for the spot regardless of whether Metzen attempted re-election.

The South St. Paul lawmaker is the fourth-longest-serving senator and the seventh-longest-serving lawmaker ever, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library’s records.

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Dayton hopes to give his State of the State address on March 9

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:22:56 -0600

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton waves to the people sitting in the balcony, before starting his annual State of the State address in the House Chambers of the State Capitol in St. Paul on Thursday, April 9, 2015. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)

Gov. Mark Dayton plans to address the Legislature — and the state of Minnesota — the day after this year’s session March 8 start.

The governor said on Friday that he hopes to give his annual State of the State address on March 9.

With some exceptions, governors tend to give their constitutionally required yearly addresses in the Minnesota House chamber, where chairs are set up in every spot for legislators and guests. But this year, the Capitol is under construction, making the chamber a less than appropriate locale.

“We are still looking for a suitable location,” Dayton said. He joked he would hold it in Pipestone or Alexandria, in out state Minnesota, but said, “it would be somewhere in the proximity of the Capitol.”

The constitution does not require governors to give State of the State speeches in St. Paul or even give speeches at all.

“The governor shall communicate by message to each session of the legislature information touching the state and country,” Article 5, Sec. 3 dictates. Governors can, and at least one has forgone giving the traditional public speech.

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Minnesota candidate’s ‘Planet 9’ claim is wrong, UMN physicist says

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 15:18:35 -0600

John Howe, a congressional candidate in Minnesota’s Second District, stands during his opening remarks at a debate on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016 at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. (Pioneer Press: David Montgomery)

Congressional candidate John Howe showed off his attention to the latest scientific developments in Thursday’s Second District GOP debate.

Unfortunately, Howe’s discussion of the possible new planet discovered in the outer reaches of the solar system got the science wrong.

“We just found another planet,” said Howe, one of six Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for the south-suburban district. “It’s going to take that planet 10,000 to 20,000 years to orbit the sun. We don’t know the gravitational effect that’s going to have on the Earth. The jury’s still out.”

But Howe’s claim about the jury being out on the gravitational effect of “Planet Nine” is massively wrong, a University of Minnesota astrophysics professor said.

Terry Jones, a professor at the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics, said scientists do know the gravitational effect the hypothesized Planet Nine would have on Earth: “None.”

(More precisely, Jones said, it’s a number so small as to be effectively none, because “nothing’s exactly zero.”)

In fact, figuring out Planet Nine’s gravitational impact isn’t rocket science. The math is pretty straightforward: gravitational impact is determined by mass and distance, and both of those are roughly known for the hypothesized ninth planet.

For a given mass, the gravitational impact is decreased by one divided by the distance squared.

“You go twice as far away, the gravity’s a quarter,” Jones said. “This thing’s 10 to 20 times the mass of the Earth, and something like hundreds of times further away from the Sun than the Earth is. It’s way out there.”

Prediction of hypothetical Planet Nine’s orbit based on unique cluster of objects beyond Neptune’s orbit. (Creative Commons: Public domain.)

The idea that planets in general could have a gravitational impact on Earth is solid enough. Jupiter in particular has a stabilizing effect on the orbits of Earth and Mars, keeping them from wandering more in their trips around the Sun.

But Uranus and Neptune, well-established outer planets, are so far away they have effectively no gravitational impact on the Earth, Jones said.

“Neptune controls the outer solar system: planets like — excuse me, former planets — like Pluto,” Jones said.

Planet Nine’s predicted orbit is 20 times further out than Neptune, and likely has about the same mass as Neptune or smaller. That means its impact on Earth would be around 400 times smaller than that of Neptune, which already has effectively no impact.

There are lots of things people still don’t know about Planet Nine — including whether it actually exists, and where it is right now. But the gravitational effect the planet would have is known. In fact, that’s how the possible planet was discovered.

Caltech researchers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown found evidence of its existence by measuring the gravitational dynamics of objects in the “Kuiper Belt” region that starts 2.5 billion miles from Earth.

“People are very interested, excited about it,” Jones said. “The problem is we have to find it to know if it’s there, and that’s going to be hard, because it’s faint and far away. It’s going take years probably.”

The post Minnesota candidate’s ‘Planet 9’ claim is wrong, UMN physicist says appeared first on The Political Animal.

Dayton appoints Appeals Court Judge Chutich to Supreme Court

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:40:32 -0600

Gov. Mark Dayton on Friday appointed Margaret Chutich, an state Appeals Court judge, to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Chutich, who Dayton had considered for previous Supreme Court openings, will replace Supreme Court Justice Mimi Wright. Wright, a Dayton appointee to the court, this week was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to join the federal bench.

She won election to the court in 2014 with 99 percent of the vote, running unopposed.

Before joining the Appeals Court, she had worked in both the state attorney general’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office. She will be the first openly gay member of the Supreme Court and the third female justice on the current bench.

In Minnesota, Supreme Court justices to not need legislative confirmation but do have to stand for election before voters.

To replace Chutich on the Appeals Court, Dayton appointed Fourth District Judge Diane Bratvold.

The post Dayton appoints Appeals Court Judge Chutich to Supreme Court appeared first on The Political Animal.

Bernie Sanders to visit Duluth, St. Paul next week

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:36:16 -0600

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. speaks during a campaign stop, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in Peterborough, N.H. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will hold two rallies in Minnesota on Tuesday, as he and other candidates jockey for support ahead of the March 1 caucuses.

Sanders will appear at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26. That evening, at 7 p.m., he’ll hold another rally at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

Doors for both free rallies open one hour before the events begin. Advance tickets aren’t required, but admission is first-come, first-serve.

The Sanders campaign says the Vermont senator will discuss “a wide range of issues” including “getting big money out of politics, combatting climate change and making college affordable.”

Sanders is running for the Democratic presidential nomination against former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley.

All three Democratic candidates are scheduled to be in Minnesota in February for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s annual Humphrey-Mondale fundraising dinner. That Feb. 12 event will be at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

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After high-level meeting, House speaker still unsure about special session

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 12:56:28 -0600

Gov. Mark Dayton, House Speaker Kurt Daudt (left) and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk speak to the media on Jan. 21, 2016/Rachel E. Stassen-Berger

After Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and House Speaker Kurt Daudt met Thursday morning to reach a final answer on whether the Legislature should meet soon to dispatch with potentially pressing needs, Daudt said he is still unsure if a special session is needed.

“I have come to the point…we feel at this point we probably shouldn’t have a special session,” Daudt, R-Crown, said. “The issues that we have talked about, we believe, or at least I believe, can and probably should wait for regular session.”

For months, the leaders have been discussing the possible need for the Legislature to convene before their scheduled March session to: approve an extension of unemployment benefits for laid off steel workers; take some action to deal with Minnesota’s long-embedded racial disparities, and begin the process of adopting federal Real ID requirement. The DFL governor and DFL Senate leaders have agreed on those need. The Republican House leaders have been less sure.

On Thursday, Daudt said he still remains willing to work toward an agreement, adding “we certainly may have a special session.” The speaker said that he is “certain” the Republican-controled House would pass legislation to deal with all three issues, if they were brought to the floor.

Bakk, DFL-Cook, and Dayton said the situation, particularly among idled Iron Range workers who are running out of employment benefits, is urgent.

“I continue to believe that we need a special session,” Dayton said, after the closed door meeting with the leaders at his official residence. “The unemployment extension (of) 26 weeks, I think, is imperative for people who are suffering on the Range. That’s why we have special sessions…When people are really pushed the the brink of total disaster, that’s when they need government, when they need the government that they depend upon.”

Daudt said that while he is sympathetic to those needs, he believes the unemployment benefit extension can wait until early March when the Legislature will reconvene and would be willing to support retroactive benefit payments for the hundreds of steel workers who are out of work.

The post After high-level meeting, House speaker still unsure about special session appeared first on The Political Animal.

Live coverage of Jan. 21 GOP Second District debate

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 11:51:20 -0600

The Pioneer Press is covering the Second District GOP debate today at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. You can watch the debate above, or follow along with live updates from reporter David Montgomery at the link below.
Republican 2nd Congressional District debate

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Democratic House leader proposes new rules to avoid legislative mess, increase openness

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:44:03 -0600

Legislative sessions often end in a deadline-driven mess, when regular rules of transparency fall prey to the quest to get things done.

House Minority Leader Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, says that last year’s end-of-session chaos was so messy that constituents are demanding change.

Thissen, a former speaker who hopes this year’s election will give Democrats the power to make him speaker in 2017, is proposing rules to control the chaos and force more openness.

Among his proposals for openness:

Ban lawmakers, judges and executive branch members from becoming lobbyist for one year after they leave public employ. The House has a rule with such a ban for House members but it is unenforced. A Pioneer Press analysis in 2015 found dozens of lawmakers had made the leap from the Legislature to lobbying, some within days of their legislative service.
Study the possibility of bringing the House under open records laws. Currently the House and Senate are exempt from open records laws and set their own rules for open meetings, data they release and other transparency issues.

Thissen would also change the rules for House business, to avoid end-of-session darkness:

Require at least 24 hours public availability of joint House-Senate bills before floor votes.
Ban policy language from massive budget bills.
Enforce the constitutionally required “single subject rule.”

The Democratic leader said he would propose the changes this year but, since his party is in the minority, he may have little success in forcing them in action. But, Thissen said, he plans to continue the push next year when, if Democrats win back the House, he stands a good chance of becoming speaker again.

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Gophers basketball pregame: Have Big Ten teams figured out Jordan Murphy?

Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:58:13 -0600

It had been more than a decade since a Gophers freshman post player dominated nonconference play like Jordan Murphy.

Murphy had five double-doubles in six games during one stretch, but he hasn’t reached double figures in rebounds in Big Ten play. He’s also not scored more than 12 points just once in six conference games. Conference opponents have him figured out so far.

There’s no question he’s one of the best freshmen in the Big Ten. But when will Murphy have a breakout game like he did earlier in the season? The Gophers (6-12, 0-6) could certainly use it Wednesday night at Michigan (13-5, 3-2) in Ann Arbor.

“It’s scouting,” Gophers coach Richard Pitino said. “He was getting trapped. He’s posting up too far out. He’s catching the ball in bad positions. Free throw shooting is certainly an issue. There’s points there that he can get. But I think it’s scouting more than anything.”

Murphy has the ability to carry the team offensively at times. He had a career-high 24 points in a win against Clemson. He had 16 of his 19 points in the first half in a loss to South Dakota State. He also had 13 of his 16 points in the fist half against Milwaukee with a three-pointer and three dunks.

Foul trouble caused him to sit for long periods in four Big Ten games. He finally had zero fouls in the last game for the first time this season, but Murphy didn’t put himself in the best spots to make plays.

Pitino said Murphy could post up closer to the basket and be quicker on his moves, basically just continue to develop his post presence. But Murphy thinks it’s also a confidence issue. He had a hard time at first trying to accept the fact that the Gophers needed him to be one of their go-to players despite being so young.

“He’s definitely told me that before,” Murphy said of Pitino. “And I’ve thought about it a lot. I guess I was a little intimidated by that at first just being a freshman on such a young team. Just having more responsibility is right. I should be taking on more responsibility and doing more than just my part.”

At 6-foot-6 and 230, Murphy is basically the only reliable inside scoring presence this team has. But opposing teams can use a “Hack-a-Murph” philosophy, because he’s been so terrible at the foul line shooting 46 percent (17-for-37) in last eight games. That has to improve for him to be an effective scorer for the Gophers.

— The Gophers have lost 11 of their last 12 games against Michigan since 2009. Their only win during in the series during that stretch was 69-64 when the Gophers were ranked 15th in the country in 2010-11.

— Minnesota is trying to keep from falling to 0-6 to open Big Ten play for the first time since 2005-06.

The post Gophers basketball pregame: Have Big Ten teams figured out Jordan Murphy? appeared first on Gophers Now.

Gophers basketball: Players learned a lot from Richard Coffey’s speech Monday

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:26:56 -0600

Richard Coffey, who played for the Gophers and in the NBA, makes a living traveling around the country as a motivational speaker, so he was more than willing to talk to Minnesota’s basketball team Monday about dealing with a rough season.

“I talked about using their courage to get to their next level,” Coffey said. “I asked them all to commit more of themselves and all of themselves to the team’s success. I told them it’s not your confidence that gets you through tough times, it’s your courage and your fight.”

The Gophers (6-12, 0-6), who travel to play Wednesday at Michigan (13-5, 3-2), have lost seven straight games and are still winless in the Big Ten this year.

But that pales in comparison to when Coffey’s team lost 21 straight Big Ten games in Clem Haskins’ first two years coaching the team. Minnesota finished just 9-19 and 2-16 in the Big Ten in 1986-87 and 10-18 and 4-14 in 1987-88. But Coffey with teammates like Willie Burton, Melvin Newbern, Kevin Lynch, Jim Shikenjanski and Walter Bond went to the Sweet 16 in 1989 and the Elite Eight in 1990.

“I see a lot in them what my team went through the combination of my freshman and sophomore years,” Coffey said. “It’s tough when you’re going through that. The fans are great, but they want to see the team be successful (now). And the players know that. Sometimes that pressure gets to be a lot for young kids.”

Senior Joey King said he and his teammates really took Coffey’s message to heart, because they respect what he went through in his life and not just his basketball career. The North Carolina native served three years in the U.S. Army as an Airborne Paratrooper before joining the Gophers.

“With the life he’s lived, he had a great message,” King said. “I think it really stuck with a lot of our players. We had a great practice yesterday. What he’s been through with his military career and then moving into basketball, he’s done all the types of things that a lot of us players aspire to do. He went through a little rut in his career losing some games, and he was able to pull himself out of it. So it’s something that we really need to take into account, listen to him and learn from him.”

Coffey was undersized in the post at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, but he still played power forward and center in the Big Ten. He also eventually played in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gophers freshman forward Jordan Murphy, also 6-6 and the team’s leading rebounder, can relate to Coffey as a player.

“I actually took a lot from it since he was basically in the same position I am,” Murphy said. “Specifically what I learned from it was to increase by little increments at a time. Like getting two more rebounds a game. Figure out how to defend better. Figure out how to offensive rebound better.”

Gophers coach Richard Pitino said he really hopes his players understand moving forward that they not only have to play with more courage, but they need to understand that “nobody’s coming to save you.” That was what Coffey told them.

“You’re waiting for somebody to come and save it; you got to fix it yourself,” Pitino said about Coffey’s message. “Coaches can only get you so far. It’s all of our faults. (But Coffey said), ‘You got to figure it out. You’ve got to do it. When your confidence is down, you’ve got to get back to work. And your courage will get you through.’ I thought all those things were really good. He was really helpful. The guy is 6-6 and he led the Big Ten in rebounding…It was all will. It was all heart. It was all desire.”

Coffey has three children who all followed in his footsteps to find success in basketball. His oldest daughter, Sydney, is a senior at Marist. Nia is a sophomore standout for Northwestern. She’ll lead the Wildcats against the Gophers on Wednesday night at Williams Arena.

Of course, Gophers fans know of Coffey’s son, Amir, who is a leading Minnesota Mr. Basketball candidate and Pitino’s top recruit. The Hopkins senior standout hasn’t lost any confidence in how successful the Gophers could be next season when he arrives with more talent.

“Amir has a great outlook on it,” Richard Coffey said. “He sees the potential of some of the players there now and some of the players that will be added with him. He sees the potential and he’s excited about it. I think he realizes that they’re young. The Big Ten is tough. They’re playing a lot of young players. It’s a hard thing to say, but it happened with my team. You just have to be patient.”

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Mitchell bristles on whether Pekovic remains rusty

Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:51:03 -0600

Timberwolves interim head coach Sam Mitchell said center Nikola Pekovic’s numbers show he still has to work himself into shape.

After missing 35 games due to right Achillies surgery to start the season, Pekovic has played five of the last six games within an 18-minute restriction per game.

“How many games has he played? Do I really need to answer that,” Mitchell said to the media before Sunday’s matinee versus the Phoenix Suns at Target Center. “I mean you guys give me a hard time because you say I’m kind of prickly, but Pek has not played in a year. After (five) games and we don’t get to practice because we play every other day, you’ve ask me has Pek scraped off the rust? He is limited to 18 minutes a game, and I’m the person that’s prickly. Did that answer your question?”

Not directly.

“I don’t think in 18 minutes in four games he’s going to scrape it off,” Mitchell said.

After making his season debut Jan. 6, Pekovic rested his troublesome ankle Jan. 12 vs. Oklahoma City and played the next night at Houston. He has averaged 7.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 48 percent shooting across one start and five total games.

BRIEFLY

Guard Kevin Martin was expected to play the Suns on Sunday, Mitchell said. Martin was ill and missed Friday’s game at Oklahoma City.

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Gophers basketball: Rick Pitino shows up for Minnesota-Indiana game

Sat, 16 Jan 2016 12:46:11 -0600

Richard Pitino talked about getting a motivational speaker to help his team mentally get over losing six straight games, but there’s no reason to turn to someone else when your father is the right man for the job.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino showed up for the Gophers’ game against Indiana on Saturday — and suddenly they started to play better. Is that a coincidence? I think not.

Pitino spoke to the Gophers before they played in the Big Ten tournament in Chicago last year. They ended up beating Rutgers before falling in a tight game with Ohio State in the next round.

The elder Pitino also showed up to watch his son during Richard’s first season with the Gophers when they had a big win against Florida State at home.

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Gophers basketball pregame: Freshman Ahmad Gilbert Jr. is the new kid in starting lineup

Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:21:20 -0600

Out all of the incoming freshmen this season, Ahmad “JR” Gilbert Jr. was probably the player least expected to get a lot of playing time.

Richard Pitino even said Gilbert was behind his fellow newcomers when he arrived, which made it seem like the 6-foot-6 forward was a redshirt candidate.

But Gilbert has impressed Pitino enough to give him a chance to start the last two games, including Saturday against Indiana.

“You know what I really like about him,” Pitino said. “He’s not a great player right now. I think he’s getting better. But I love his team enthusiasm. He’s talking in every huddle. He’s communicating. We’ve got a real problem with communication. That’s why I went with that lineup. That was the biggest thing. JR is a really good talker.”

Gilbert averages just 2.3 points in 7.8 minutes a game this season, but he had seven points and recorded a team-high four steals in the loss against the Cornhuskers. He’s played double figures in minutes in four of the five Big Ten games this year, including a season-high 18 minutes Tuesday.

The Philadelphia native said playing in only seven games and rarely seeing the court in the nonconference was difficult to swallow. But Gilbert said he needed that time to get used to college and start to mature physically and mentally.

“It was frustrating,” Gilbert said. “It wasn’t just basketball. It was school, too. I had to adjust to the whole college environment and basketball. Right now there’s nothing but basketball, so it’s easier. In practice, I’m trying to get better every day. The other freshmen picked me up and carried me. So I thank them a lot for what they did.”

Pitino likes the way Gilbert, Dupree McBrayer and Jordan Murphy communicate together on the court. Talking has been a big issue with senior captains Carlos Morris and Joey King, who are now coming off the bench.

“It’s not about us be freshmen anymore,” Gilbert said. “We’re here to play basketball the same way. I don’t want to say it’s a freshmen thing. We’re learning the game the same way as everybody else. But even the older guys help us, too. But we had to take the next step (as freshmen).”

McBrayer, who has started games before with Murphy, said most of the Gophers’ defensive struggles have come from a lack of communicating, so he hopes that they can show improvement with the freshmen-laden lineup.

“For the most part it’s communication,” he said. “We just have to get better. Everybody has to talk at all times. It just can’t be one or two people. Once we realize that our zone will be really good.”

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Twinsights: Two Eduardos avoid arbitration

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 13:15:13 -0600

After taking over as the starting shortstop during the past two seasons, Eduardo Escobar will enter 2016 with the most security he’s ever enjoyed.

According to a person with direct knowledge, Escobar, 27, agreed to a $2.15 million salary in his first year of arbitration eligibility after making $532,000 last season.

The switch-hitter, who received permission from the Twins to stay with Aragua through the Venezuelan Winter League round-robin, may have been helped by arbitration agreements with a pair of fellow shortstops with similar service time. Countryman Freddy Galvis settled at $2 million with the Philadelphia Phillies, while the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed at $2.075 million with Jordy Mercer.

Over the past two seasons, Escobar has accrued 3.1 Wins Above Replacement in 911 plate appearances, according to Baseball-Reference.com. Galvis logged negative 0.2 WAR and Mercer matched Escobar despite sagging to 0.3 in 2015, his so-called platform year.

When Escobar signed as a 17-year-old amateur with the Chicago White a decade ago this month, his signing bonus was just $25,000.

Utility infielder Eduardo Nunez agreed to accept a 44-percent raise to $1.475 million, according to a source. Nunez made $1.025 million last season, when he made 33 starts and slugged .431 in 204 plate appearances.

The Twins had yet to announce the outcomes with their three remaining arbitration candidates: third baseman Trevor Plouffe and relievers Kevin Jepsen and Casey Fien.

On Thursday evening the Twins agreed with left-hander Tommy Milone at $4.5 million. That pushed their total allotment for six projected starting pitchers to $40.25 million.

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Vikings sign cornerback Melvin White to futures contract

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 12:58:40 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

The Vikings on Friday signed cornerback Melvin White to a futures contract.

White, undrafted in 2013 out of Louisiana-Lafayette, got into 30 games with the Carolina Panthers from 2013-14, starting 17. He spent last season on the St. Louis Rams practice squad.

While with the Panthers in 2013, one of White’s teammates was cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who has spent the past two seasons with Minnesota.

White is expected to participate in Vikings spring drills.

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Gophers basketball: Pitino on Richard Coffey’s message after 0-5 start: “Tell those guys we believe in them”

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 12:15:06 -0600

When your top recruit’s father calls you after a sixth straight loss, you probably wouldn’t expect it to be an overly positive and encouraging conversation.

But Gophers basketball coach Richard Pitino received a much needed boost after four-star 2016 recruit Amir Coffey’s dad, Richard, spoke to him this week following a second straight 25-point loss Tuesday at Nebraska.

The Gophers (6-11, 0-5 Big Ten), who host Indiana (14-3, 4-0) on Saturday at Williams Arena, have lost confidence and are searching for answers after nine losses in the last 10 games.

Richard Coffey, who played for Clem Haskins at Minnesota from 1987-1990, was able to relate to what Pitino’s current players are going through. But he had it much, much worse before things got better.

Coffey experienced 21 straight Big Ten losses during his first two seasons with the Gophers, including 16 straight to finish just 9-19 and 2-16 in the Big Ten during the 1987-88 season. The following year, Minnesota finally snapped the program’s worst ever losing streak with a 59-56 win at Michigan State. But the Gophers still finished 10-18 and 4-14 in 1987-88.

All that adversity, though, paved the way for two of the best back-to-back seasons in Gophers basketball history. Basically the core group of players with Coffey, Willie Burton, Melvin Newbern, Kevin Lynch and Jim Shikenjanski went to the Sweet 16 in 1989 and the Elite Eight in 1990.

“Richard Coffey called me the other day and put a smile on my face,” Pitino said. “He said, ‘Coach I went through this and the next year went to the Sweet 16. We lost 20-something league games in a row. Must have been from one year to the next is my assumption. Or he’s just trying to make me feel better. But he said, ‘I’ve dealt with it. We believe in what you’re doing. Tell those guys we believe in them.’ ”

As bad as this season could still get, the Gophers will have enough talent to be a potential NCAA tournament team the next two seasons. The 2016-17 team will have five newcomers with freshmen Amir Coffey, Michael Hurt and Eric Curry (making up a top-20 recruiting class) and junior transfers Reggie Lynch and Davonte Fitzgerald.

Pitino said he is open to having a sports psychologist or former players like Coffey speak to the team about overcoming adversity. Walter Bond and Coffey, who were Minnesota teammates on the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight teams, are both motivational speakers.

“I do think too that it’s young guys being able to grow up on the court,” Pitino said. “I think going through it makes you better as well.”

— Amir Coffey is off to a great start to his senior season. The 6-foot-7 Hopkins guard is averaging 20 points per game for an undefeated Royals team ranked among the top 25 teams nationally. He was also a McDonald’s All-American game nominee and featured in a column in the last issue of Slam Magazine.

— Pitino said Friday he would likely stick with the same starting lineup the Gophers played with in Tuesday’s loss against the Cornhusker. That lineup consisted of two sophomores (Nate Mason and Bakary Konate) and three freshmen (Dupree McBrayer, Ahmad Gilbert Jr. and Jordan Murphy).

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Vikings running back coach Kirby Wilson to become Browns running game coordinator if move approved

Fri, 15 Jan 2016 10:41:13 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

Minnesota running backs coach Kirby Wilson will join the Cleveland Browns as running game coordinator if the Vikings approve the move.

The Browns have contacted the Vikings, saying they want to hire Wilson under new coach Hue Jackson. Because Wilson is under contract and is not taking a job as a head coach, the Vikings would have to allow the move.

“Everything is set if they approve it,’’ John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes minority hiring in the NFL, said Friday. ‘That’s the guy Cleveland wants. Kirby would coordinator their running game and it would put Kirby in a position to move up the line (in coaching).’’

Wooten had planned to talk to Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and coach Mike Zimmer later Friday to push for Wilson, 54, to be allowed to take the job.

“It’s not a lateral move,’’ Wooten said. “We hope the Vikings will give their blessing.’’

Wilson has been with the Vikings the past two seasons. Before that, he was Pittsburgh’s running backs coach for seven years.

Wilson had interviewed last year to be Jacksonville’s offensive coordinator.

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Gophers basketball: Pitino liked new three freshmen lineup despite second 25-point loss

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 23:24:04 -0600

The only bright spot from the Gophers’ 25-point loss at Nebraska on Tuesday was that Richard Pitino’s new starting lineup played well for the first four minutes.

Four minutes. Yeah, it’s not much of a sample size at all. But it’s about the only thing that Minnesota can feel good about after the ninth loss in the last 10 games and sixth straight, 84-59 in Lincoln.

Pitino saw some positives early from sophomore Nate Mason, freshman Dupree McBrayer, freshman Ahmad Gilbert Jr., freshman Jordan Murphy and sophomore Bakary Konate, who were up 8-4 before the Gophers were blitzed by a 28-4 Nebraska run in the first half.

“I like the lineup I put out there,” Pitino said. “I thought they had good energy, had good juice. Then we got in foul trouble and it kind of sucked the life out of us.”

After a foul on McBrayer at 15:43, Nebraska’s Shavon Shields made a layup and the rally started that blew the game wide open.

Gophers seniors Joey King and Carlos Morris came off the bench soon after and things got much worse. I’m not sure it was all their fault. But they clearly were not comfortable in their new roles.

“I think Carlos and Joey are not great communicators,” Pitino said. “And we’re having some issues with that. That’s why I wanted to go with those younger guys. I kept explaining to them that it’s not a punishment. Don’t take it as a punishment. You’re going to play. We’ve got to give it a different look. I thought the look was good. Then obviously those blunders in the middle of the first half of the game got away from us.”

The freshmen are much better at communicating defensively, which was the main reason Pitino decided to start three of them together Tuesday.

“We’ve got a real problem with communication,” Pitino said. “That’s why I went with that lineup. That was the biggest thing.”

Murphy, who was plagued with foul trouble for the fourth time in five Big Ten games, thought the Gophers had their best start to the season.

“I think the first five minutes of the game I think we did play real good, we played better,” he said. “Best first five minutes of the season. I think we did talk well as a group. I think we have a lot of chemistry with that group. I know we’re trying different things right now. But I like what that group (did).”

So, will Pitino stick with the same starting lineup for Saturday’s game against Indiana? We’ll see. My guess is that you’ll see it again. But shouldn’t he keep making changes until Minnesota ends its losing streak?

My starting five for the Gophers would look like this:

G — Nate Mason
G — Carlos Morris
F — Charles Buggs
F — Joey King
F — Jordan Murphy

— I know this is a smaller lineup with Murphy or King at center, but I think this group played the best for the longest stretch in Big Ten play. They helped the Gophers go from a 17-point deficit to ahead by two points at Ohio State in the conference opener.

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Twinsights: Tommy Milone avoids arbitration with 62-percent raise

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 18:39:12 -0600

Twins left-hander Tommy Milone avoided arbitration Thursday night by agreeing to a $4.5 million salary for this season, according to a person with direct knowledge.

Milone, coming off a rebound season in which he went 9-5 with a 3.92 earned run average and his first career save, received a 62-percent raise from the $2.775 million he earned last season. Milone, 28, is projected to win the fifth spot in the Twins rotation again this spring.

With Milone under contract, the Twins have five more deals to hammer out in advance of Friday’s noon Central deadline for exchanging salary arbitration figures. Also eligible for arbitration are third baseman Trevor Plouffe, relievers Kevin Jepsen and Casey Fien, starting shortstop Eduardo Escobar and utility infielder Eduardo Nunez

Plouffe, already the highest-paid third baseman in club history, projects to make close to $8 million in his third year of eligibility after making $4.8 million last season. The Twins think so highly of Plouffe, they opted to move young slugger Miguel Sano, a natural third baseman, to the corner outfield rather than seek a trade match for Plouffe.

As of Thursday evening, there were no indications the Twins and Plouffe were entertaining multi-year contract possibilities.

Jepsen, acquired on July 31 from the Tampa Bay Rays, is coming off career bests of 15 saves and 75 appearances. He finished the year as the Twins closer after Glen Perkins was slowed by neck and back issues, but the Twins have already said Perkins will come to spring camp as their closer.

Jepsen, who made $3.025 million last season, is in his final year of arbitration eligibility before reaching potential free agency after 2016. As such, he is in line for a raise to $6 million or more; players with five-plus years of service time can compare their statistics against those of recent free agents as well via the arbitration process.

Free-agent setup man Ryan Madson received a three-year, $22 million deal from the Oakland A’s in December ($7.33 million average annual value) after posting three saves and a 2.13 ERA in 63 1/3 innings for the Kansas City Royals. Jepsen, 31, had a combined 2.33 ERA last season in 69 2/3 innings.

Fien, making his second pass through the arbitration system, is projected for a raise to $2.2 million from the $1.375 million he made last season. After an early-season stint on the disabled list, he rallied to post a 3.09 ERA in the second half.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, Escobar could see his salary rise to $1.8 million after making $532,000 last season. Nunez, who made $1.025 million last year, is projected for a bump to $1.5 million.

In addition to Milone, the Twins have committed hefty sums to several starting pitchers for 2016: Ervin Santana ($13.5 million), Ricky Nolasco ($12 million) and Phil Hughes ($9.2 million). Nolasco, however, isn’t assured of a rotation spot with right-handers Kyle Gibson and Tyler Duffey, both making close to the big-league minimum, slotted ahead of him.

The Twins figure to spend about $40.25 million on their rotation (including Nolasco) in 2016.

Zack Greinke signed a six-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks last month that will pay him a record annual average of $34.42 million. That deal, however, is heavily deferred.

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Twinsights: Miguel Sano switches agencies

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:36:26 -0600

Seattle Mariners all-star Robinson Cano has served as a trusted mentor to Twins outfielder Miguel Sano since the latter was barely into his teenage years in the Dominican Republic.

Now they share the same agency as well.

Sano, 22, announced via his Twitter account on Thursday that he had retained the services of Roc Nation Sports, the high-profile agency formed by rap impresario Jay-Z.

“I am so happy to join @RocNation!” Sano tweeted along with a picture of himself wearing a T-shirt and cap bearing the agency’s logo.

Sano will be represented by Kyle Thousand, the agency’s head of baseball, along with fellow agent Juan Perez, a Roc Nation spokesman confirmed.

In addition to Cano, who signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Mariners after the 2013 season, Roc Nation’s impressive client list includes C.C. Sabathia, Yoenis Cespedes, Rusney Castillo and Erick Aybar in the major leagues. Sano becomes the agency’s first Twins client since Roc Nation split off from CAA last February.

Outside of baseball, Roc Nation Sports represents the likes of Kevin Durant and Justise Winslow in the NBA; Dez Bryant, Ndamukong Suh and Todd Gurley in the NFL; Skylar Diggins in the WNBA; and boxing’s Miguel Cotto and Andre Ward.

Rob Plummer had represented Sano since he was 16, when he signed with the Twins for $3.15 million in October 2009 after a lengthy and drama-filled process. Plummer, who focused his work almost exclusively on Sano’s career, merged his agency in 2013 with Relativity Baseball, the same agency that represents current Twins Glen Perkins, Trevor May, Eduardo Nunez, John Ryan Murphy and Logan Darnell.

While the decision to leave Plummer had to be difficult for Sano, it was not one he apparently made quickly.

“I think that was brewing for a while,” said a person from a rival agency.

Voted the Twins’ 2015 MVP by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Sano likely won’t be eligible for salary arbitration until after the 2018 season. He is under team control through 2021, but a multiyear deal will likely be discussed at some point in the interim.

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Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen named to first Pro Bowl

Thu, 14 Jan 2016 16:00:26 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

One year after being perhaps the most notable Pro Bowl snub, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen on Thursday was named to the game for the first time.

The six-year veteran, who had been an alternate, was picked as an injury replacement for Houston’s J.J. Watt for the Jan. 31 game in Hawaii. His selection comes after he really had wanted to play in the game last year in his native Arizona, but got passed over.

Griffen was tied for 12th in the NFL with 10.5 sacks, although that’s a lower figure than the 12 he had in 2014. Griffen had two key sacks in a 20-13 win at Green Bay in the regular-season finale, including one that forced a fumble that cornerback Captain Munnerlyn returned 55 yards for a touchdown.

Griffen will join in the game Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who was among the original selections named last month. Griffen has emerged as one of Minnesota’s team leaders, having for the first time in his career been voted by his teammates as one of the captains.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said earlier this week Griffen could have surgery on a shoulder that bothered him late in the season. However, any procedure would be put off until after the Pro Bowl.

Also Thursday, the San Diego Chargers hired Jeff Davidson as offensive line coach. Davidson recently was fired by Minnesota after five seasons.

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Vikings hire former Miami, Oakland coach Tony Sparano as offensive line coach

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 16:39:59 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

The Vikings have hired Tony Sparano as offensive line coach, a source said Wednesday.

Sparano takes over for Jeff Davidson, who was fired earlier in the week. Sparano was Miami’s coach from 2008-11 and Oakland’s interim coach in 2014. He most recently was San Francisco tight ends coach.

Sparano spent time with Vikings coach Mike Zimmer with Dallas from 2003-06. During that time, Zimmer was defensive coordinator and Sparano was tights ends coach and then offensive line coach.

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Guard David Yankey signs futures deal with Carolina Panthers after turning down Vikings

Wed, 13 Jan 2016 08:07:29 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

Guard David Yankey, who spent the season on the Vikings practice squad, signed a futures contract Tuesday with the Carolina Panthers.

A source said the Vikings offered to sign Yankey to a futures deal, but he instead chose to leave the team.

Yankey didn’t pan out after being taken by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. He didn’t get into a single game as a rookie and then failed to make the 53-man roster this season.

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Wolves on verge of NBA history; G on KG recent tip

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 12:19:34 -0600

The Timberwolves are on the verge of setting a new NBA record that has stood for seven seasons.

Minnesota has made fewer three-pointers than their opponent in 21 consecutive games, which matches the Philadelphia 76ers (2007-08) for the longest run since the long-range shot was introduced in 1979, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Wolves will try to stop the streak Tuesday night against Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center.

The Thunder are 26-12 but don't shoot a ton of threes. OKC makes an average of 7.6 thees per game, which is above the Wolves’ league-low mark of 4.9 per game.

DIENG ON KG TIPS

Wolves third-year center Gorgui Dieng said the latest lesson from 21-year veteran Kevin Garnett is creating space on offense.

“When you see our plays, the bigs handle the ball a lot on the elbow,” Dieng explained. “Most of the time you get people are going to be on you and you don’t have space. He just showed me how to create space and make sure people don’t lean on me. I did it four or five games, but last game I got a call. It is what is. I’m going to keep doing it.”

STRETCH

Losers of six straight games, the Wolves (12-26) are 0-5 in January, with six of their remaining 11 games this month against teams with winning records.

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Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn regrets going after ball on Seattle broken play

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:53:44 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

Vikings cornerback Captain Munnerlyn couldn’t sleep Sunday night, so he watched plenty of highlights from the playoff game earlier in the day against Seattle.

It wasn’t fun.

The Vikings lost 10-9 when Blair Walsh missed a field goal with 22 seconds left. But Munnerlyn wondered if Minnesota wouldn’t even have needed those points had he made a proper play early in the fourth quarter.

With the Seahawks at the Minnesota 39 and trailing 9-0, a snap sailed over the head of quarterback Russell Wilson’s head and went back to the Seattle 45. Wilson picked up the ball as Munnerlyn blitzed.

Munnerlyn, though, overran the play and Wilson got loose and hit Tyler Lockett across the middle. Lockett ran to the Vikings 4 to set up a Seattle touchdown that cut the deficit to 9-7.

“I was going for the ball,’’ Munnerlyn said Monday. “I'm all about the ball. That' s my M.O. since I've been in the NFL. I'm a turnover guy. He's a great quarterback. There ain't too many that can pick up the ball and move like that. He picked up the ball and got away from us fast.

“I do regret going for the ball. I should have gone up for the shoulder. To see all the guys inside, I was just sick about that. I live and die by the ball. I try to make turnovers. That's what I was going for.’’

Had Munnerlyn contained Wilson, he realized the outcome might have been different. Instead, Minnesota’s season soon was over.

“Last 24 hours, it was rough,’’ Munnerlyn said. “I couldn't sleep. I kept watching ESPN, NFL Network. Watched the game again on my iPad, just to see what I could have done differently to put my team in position to win this game. We fell short. Tough loss.’’

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Vikings fire offensive line coach Jeff Davidson

Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:25:39 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

The Vikings have fired offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday.

Asked why he didn't renew his contract, Zimmer said "I didn't want to.''

A candidate to replace Davidson is Dan Campbell, who finished the season as interim Miami Dolphins coach. Zimmer wouldn't comment on Campbell.

Davidson was with the Vikings for five seasons, the last two under Zimmer. Zimmer inherited him from former coach Leslie Frazier.

Minnesota's offensive line had numerous problems during the year. Vikings quarterbacks were sacked 45 times, with starter Teddy Bridgewater going down in 44 of them.

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Wide receiver Isaac Fruechte among seven Vikings practice players signed to future contracts

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 14:47:42 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

Former University of Minnesota wide receiver Isaac Fruechte was among seven practice-squad players signed Monday by the Vikings to future contracts.

The moves mean those players are slated to be on the offseason roster, which has a limit of 90.

Also also signing were safety John Lowdermilk, son of former Vikings center Kirk Lowdermilk, guard Isame Faciane, defensive tackle Toby Johnson, fullback Blake Renaud and linebackers Terrance Plummer and Alex Singleton.

Minnesota’s other three practice squad players to end the season were tight end Dominique Jones, running back Dominique Williams and offensive lineman David Yankey.

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Gophers basketball: Pitino doesn’t like Murphy at SF; Gilbert to get more minutes

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 11:43:43 -0600

After the Gophers’ worst loss all season by 25 points Saturday against Northwestern at home, Richard Pitino didn’t appear ready to make drastic changes to his rotation or starting lineup.

But Pitino said that he is looking at a few things to do differently heading into Tuesday’s game at Nebraska, especially when it comes to the small forward position.

Jordan Murphy has started on the wing for the last five games, but that will likely change. He’s better suited to play inside.

Fellow freshman Ahmad Gilbert Jr. and junior Charles Buggs could now fill that small forward role, which was the case earlier in the season.

“I think Ahmad Gilbert is starting to play better,” Pitino said. “So he can play more minutes, because he’s a natural small forward. I think that Charles hopefully can continue to practice hard and he can give us more minutes. And then it will allow Jordan to play his natural position, which is (power forward).”

Murphy playing power forward again seems like the right move. He averaged 10.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and shot 46 percent in the last five games at small forward. He was averaging 11.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and shooting 52 percent at power forward in the six games before the switch.

I think Murphy has struggled a bit figuring out how to be effective offensively facing the basket and from the perimeter. But his dip in rebounding and shooting percentage is also probably because Minnesota is playing tougher competition in the Big Ten.

The biggest issue with Murphy starting at power forward is that means 6-foot-9 senior shooter Joey King would play center. Otherwise King would need to come off the bench with 6-11 sophomore Bakary Konate remaining in the frontcourt with Murphy.

“I think you’ve got to be open to all those things,” Pitino said. “I don’t think lineup changes are the answer. I think it’s everybody. I don’t think it’s one specific guy.”

— King said the players had a team meeting after losing to Milwaukee. The senior captains and sophomore point guard Nate Mason decided the players should get together and talk about the season so far. The Gophers played better even in losses to Ohio State, Michigan State and Penn State (for the first 34 minutes). But they might need to get together again after Saturday’s embarrassing loss at home.

Vikings to pick No. 23 in first round of NFL draft

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 20:26:10 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

The Vikings learned Sunday they will pick No. 23 in the first round of next spring's NFL draft.

The order of the top 20 already had been determined among teams that didn't make the playoffs. Among the four teams that lost during wild-card weekend, the Vikings were then slotted in based upon their regular-season record of 11-5.

Minnesota lost 10-9 Sunday to Seattle at TCF Bank Stadium. The draft is April 28-30 in Chicago.

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Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway wants to return for an 11th season

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 16:54:05 -0600

By Chris Tomasson

ctomasson@pioneerpress.com

There’s no way linebacker Chad Greenway wants to retire after the way the Vikings lost Sunday.

Minnesota fell 10-9 to Seattle in a wild-card playoff game at TCF Bank Stadium when Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining. Greenway, who turns 33 Tuesday, then said he’s determined to come back for an 11th season.

“I’m going to play football,’’ said Greenway, who will be a free agent. “I got to play one more year. It just can’t seem to end like this. It’s a hard one right now.’’

The team’s longest-tenured player hopes to return to the Vikings. Greenway, who took a $3 million pay cut to $4 million to come back this season, didn’t want to go into specifics about how that could happen.

“I haven’t really thought that far,’’ Greenway said. “Who knows what’s going to happen? Obviously, there’s offseason decisions, but it just doesn’t seem like the immediacy of this ends right now. … This football team shouldn’t be going home right now, and that’s hard. … There’s enough football left in me to play another season and try to go out differently.’’

Greenway, who was taken in the first round of the 2006 draft and missed his first year because of injury, has been a starter since he first took the field in 2007. This season, though, he had a reduced role that included coming out on passing downs when the Vikings were at full strength.

Greenway had talked before the season as if it might be his last. He is Minnesota’s nominee for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, based on community service.

Running back Adrian Peterson has been a good friend of Greenway’s since entering the NFL in 2007. He said it “feels good’’ to hear the news the linebacker wants to play another year.

“Him leaving out in this fashion is not what I would want for him,’’ Peterson said. “So he deserves more. He has brought a lot of leadership and just hard work and just that warrior mentality to this organization. That’s my brother and I love him. When I’m out there fighting, he’s one of the guys that I’m doing it for. … We need him around.’’

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Gophers women’s basketball pregame: Banham’s 10 threes made special B-day for Stollings

Sun, 10 Jan 2016 12:05:07 -0600

Gophers women’s basketball coach Marlene Stollings didn’t enjoy the record-breaking three-point display on her birthday until late in the 106-75 win at Illinois on Thursday.

All Stollings could think about during most of the game was that other Big Ten teams had lost after being up 18 points and 20 points before. So she didn’t want that to happen to the Gophers (10-4, 2-1), who host Michigan (9-5, 1-2) on Sunday at Williams Arena.

But Stollings, who turned 40 Thursday, realized just how special it was for senior guard Rachel Banham to break a school record with 10 three-pointers and for the team to tie the Big Ten record with 19 threes.

“It was a fun game to be a part of,” she said. “Those are special moments in time, because conference play is so tough. You just can’t predict having a game like that. We know we have many capable shooters. There are nights when we are all on, and that can be dangerous. We were very excited it was on national television. The entire nation got to see us and what we’re about — our high-powered offense was on display.”

Banham’s career-high 39 points on 10-for-15 shooting from three-point range will be remembered for a long time, most likely when her jersey goes up in the Barn rafters for being the school’s all-time leading scorer. But WNBA scouts were reminded Thursday of Banham’s all-around game as well.

“Pro coaches are looking at her as being a combo guard at the next level,” Stollings said. “The more versatility can show, the higher her stock will be in the draft. She can go right or left, shoot the pull up and shoot the three. And she’s unselfish. She’s one of the best passers on the team.”

Stollings mentioned that the key to Minnesota’s three-point shooting is rebounding. Despite lacking consistency in the frontcourt, the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds per game (15.7) and rank seventh in the nation in three-pointers per game (9.6). Pretty interesting combination.

But a lot of Minnesota’s three-pointers come from offensive rebounds and kick out passes, Stollings said.

Gophers basketball postgame: Lack of effort embarrassing against Northwestern

Sat, 09 Jan 2016 23:11:30 -0600

The Gophers were down just 32-26 at halftime Saturday against Northwestern, but it turned ugly quickly and eventually into a 77-52 loss.

It was the worst second-half performance I've seen at Williams Arena.

Sure, the Wildcats were lights out shooting the ball at 65 percent from the field in the second half. But they also had little resistance after a certain point from the Gophers, who seemed to quit once the margin appeared insurmountable.

The body language was particularly poor for senior captains Joey King and Carlos Morris, who had just 10 points on 4-for-11 shooting combined.

"I don't think those two guys played great today, but you can't shelve them," Pitino said. "You've just got to keep looking to everybody. We just got to keep looking at all options. It's not like it's solely Carlos' fault. It's not Joey's fault solely. It's everybody's fault, starting with me. If guys are not competing every single possession, they're not getting rebounds, that's on me. So we got to just keep on looking to everybody available in the program. That's kind of the way I look at it."

Where do the Gophers go from here? If changes are made, then what will they be? Having the same starting lineup in the last five games you think would help build cohesiveness. But Minnesota is 0-5 with Nate Mason, Carlos Morris, Jordan Murphy, Joey King and Bakary Konate starting. That means something is wrong.

What happens if Pitino benches both of his seniors? What if he went with a starting lineup of Kevin Dorsey, Mason, Dupree McBrayer, Murphy and Konate? Will that make a difference? Maybe it's worth a try. The Gophers couldn't play worse than they did for stretches Saturday. Benching veterans worked in the past. Remember Austin Hollins a few years ago.

The blame is spread around, though, according to Pitino.

"It's not the seniors' fault," he said. "Buggs is our only junior in the program. It's not necessarily his fault. It's everybody. It's a collection of everybody. We understand that we're really, really young. We get it. But we got to do something about it. Being young doesn't excuse you from playing hard all the time, getting physical, rebounding. So those are things we've got to continue to be committed to doing."

-- When Pitino says he'll be looking at everyone in the program does that mean walk-ons, too? Former Hopkins guard Stephon Sharp hasn't played in the Big Ten, but Pitino said he was going to be in the rotation in conference play. Could we see more minutes for Sharp? The 6-foot-4 freshman played a career-high 10 minutes in Minnesota's last win against Chicago State. My guess is that fellow freshman Ahmad Gilbert Jr. could also be getting more minutes in place of Buggs, who supposedly hasn't practiced well lately.

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Outdoors expo guide: From St. Paul Sportshow to Minneapolis Boat Show

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 17:28:05 -0600

(Pioneer Press: Dave Orrick)

The St. Paul Sportsmen's Show is nearly upon us. Then the Minneapolis Boat Show. Then All-Canada ... Great Waters ... Muskie Expo ... and ... the list goes on. (Duck decoy addicts musn't forget the Sporting Collectible's Show.) Plenty to keep a guy busy in the off-season.

Here are the winter outdoors expo season dates, venues and links for more info:

EXPO SEASON

Jan. 14-17: St. Paul Sportsmen's Show, St. Paul RiverCentre, StPaulSportShow.com

Jan. 21-24: Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneapolis Convention Center, MinneapolisBoatShow.com

Feb. 4-7: All-Canada Show, Canterbury Park, Shakopee, AllCanada.com

Feb. 11-14: Minneapolis/St. Paul RV, Vacation & Camping Show, Minneapolis Convention Center, MSPRVShow.com

Feb. 19-21: The Lake Home & Cabin Show, Minneapolis Convention Center, LakeHomeAndCabinShow.com

Feb. 26-28: Outdoor News Deer & Turkey Show, Warner Coliseum, State Fairgrounds, MNDeerShow.com

March 18-20: Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo, Century College, White Bear Lake, GreatWatersFlyExpo.com

March 30-April 3: Northwest Sportshow, Minneapolis Convention Center, NorthwestSportShow.com

April 8-10: Minnesota Muskie Expo, Gangelhoff Center, Concordia University, St. Paul, MinnesotaMuskieExpo.com

April 9: American Sporting Collectibles, Medina Entertainment Center, Medina, AmericanSporting.net

April 22-24: Outdoor Adventure Expo, Midwest Mountaineering, Minneapolis, OutdoorAdventureExpo.com

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A $15 minimum wage in St. Paul? Facebook-focused ballot initiative fizzles in 5 days as campaign evolves

Thu, 07 Jan 2016 15:24:49 -0600

The "15 in 16" ballot initiative -- the latest effort to raise St. Paul's minimum wage to $15 per hour -- was born on Facebook at 4:16 p.m. Jan. 1, 2016.

It died less than five days later at 8:10 a.m. Jan. 6. What happened during the course of those five days? The answer is: a lot.

Is that ballot initiative dead-dead, or just dead?

St. Paul resident and DFL campaign volunteer Quinn Doheny, the lead organizer and public face of the "15 in 16" Facebook page, had hoped to obtain more than 2,425 signatures to get a minimum wage ordinance and charter amendment on the city ballot in November. The Facebook page included links to a handful of prototype documents -- samples of what the ordinance and ballot language might look like. Some 600 folks were added to the group page (though not all by their own doing).

"I would say the rationale would be the cost of living in St. Paul is such that this type of wage is necessary in order keep people out of poverty," said Doheny on Monday. "The reason for putting it forward at the city level is that the cost of living in the metro area is higher than in the rest of the state."

"We are a high poverty city," he added. "We do have a lot of single parent families. That's one of the impacts this would have, hopefully raising the wage of single-parent families."

The short-lived "15 in 16" campaign proposed exemptions for small businesses, which would be expected to pay workers at least $1 more than the state minimum wage. It also proposed exemptions for employees under age 18 and businesses with tipped employees, such as restaurants, provided that employee wages added up to at least $15 per hour after tips.

Doheny said on Monday that the effort was still rather preliminary, and his campaign partners ("our group is kind of a loose affiliation at this point") had yet to meet with relevant parties in anti-poverty circles, labor organizers or members of the St. Paul City Council.

Nevertheless, the Facebook page made it clear that the "15 in 16" campaign was ready to get signatures for their ballot language:

The purpose of this group is to obtain those signatures (and more), and deliver them to the City Clerk. We are also interested in obtaining support for the initiative from labor, political figures, neighborhood organizations, and businesses.
Under the Files tab above, you can download the ordinance, a signature page, as well as documents explaining the need for a higher minimum wage and the current cost of living for family types in Ramsey County. When collecting signatures, the ordinance document in its entirety must be attached to the signature page for signatories to read.

Given the breakneck speed at which the "15 in 16" campaign was operating, minimum wage proponents on both sides of the Mississippi River stood up to take notice, and not in a happy way. On Tuesday night, key members of a more-established effort in Minneapolis -- 15 Now -- had a heart-to-heart with the "15 in 16" crowd. And after some discussion, both groups have decided to work together.

The ballot initiative is dead, and the Facebook campaign "15 in 16" is now known as 15NowSTP. Green Party activists Jesse Mortenson and Brandon Long have been added as page administrators.

Here's how Doheny's announcement read on the Facebook page Wednesday morning:

1. After meeting with leaders from 15Now Minnesota, the 15 in 16 leadership has decided to become part of a Saint Paul Chapter of 15Now and adopt a new name. The transition of this page will take place soon.
2. With the merger, 15 in 16 will halt collecting signatures of our current initiative.
3. If you have already collected signatures, please send those in to the PO Box previously listed, as we will use the information to expand our volunteer base for an upcoming initiative.

Long added the following in a brief online exchange with the Scoop: "The ordinance that was put out by that group will be strengthened to better match the eventual language of the Minneapolis Ballot Initiative."

Longtime DFL, labor and minimum wage activists had said they had a number of concerns with the "15 in 16" approach, not the least of which was the fact that key campaign partners such as SEIU, the labor organization, and ISAIAH, an interfaith coalition of housing and anti-poverty activists, had yet to sign on. Shoving legal language at the city council without giving each member a chance to peruse the particulars and suggest tweaks seemed heavy-handed. And why make unnecessary enemies of potential allies?

They also noted recent history: statewide efforts to ban gay marriage and institute voter I.D. restrictions both failed when they went to ballot referendum in recent years.

"Legislating by referendum isn't the best way to do it," said an organizer, who asked not to be identified, shortly before the fateful meeting on Tuesday.

"In some ways, this effort is kind of going backwards," she said. "Talk to the city council. Let's organize, and let's organize the right way. I think the ballot should be the last option."

Here's another reason to get organized: the competition is equally galvanized. Efforts to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour have gathered steam across the country, but have also faced stiff opposition, even in left-leaning cities like Minneapolis.

Critics and even some supporters of wage hikes fear that implementing them city by city will leave high-poverty areas like St. Paul at a competitive disadvantage for jobs, which St. Paul remains sorely in need of.

"We have a statewide minimum wage set in law," said St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kramer, in a brief email exchange. "If you want to change the law, go to the legislature."

If you want to raise the minimum wage in St. Paul, touch base with the interfaith anti-poverty group ISAIAH first, ok?

More than a year ago, Seattle chose to phase in a minimum wage increase that will reach $15 per hour for many (but not all) employers in 2017. The minimum went to $11 per hour last April, at the same time that the city's restaurant industry began shedding jobs. Coincidence? Experts are saying it's too soon to tell, but interested parties across the country are monitoring the Seattle experience closely for clues.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio plans to institute a $15 minimum wage for public employees by the end of 2018.

After months of discussion, Minneapolis is studying a $12 or $15 minimum wage, which could be implemented citywide or countywide, though nothing appears imminent.

As for the state of Minnesota, large employers are currently expected to pay regular employees (adults not in training) $9 per hour until Aug. 1, when the minimum increases to $9.50. Small employers currently pay $7.25 per hour until Aug. 1, when the minimum increases to $7.75. Youth and trainees are paid less.

An inflation index takes effect Jan. 1, 2018.

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Muhammad rewarded with playing time and results

Wed, 06 Jan 2016 12:37:58 -0600

Timberwolves forward Shabazz Muhammad scored a season-high 20 points in a season-most 34 minutes in Monday’s 109-99 loss to Philadelphia.

“I’ve been scoring the ball really well and putting extra work in on my jumpshot and my floater, stuff like that,” Muhammad said after Wednesday’s shoot around before the night game against Denver at Target Center. “It’s falling right now, and it’s really good.”

In his last three games, Muhammad has shot 62 percent from the field (18 of 29). He had 15 points against Detroit on New Year’s Eve and 12 points against Milwaukee on Saturday.

Scoring is one thing, but ball movement has been the overarching emphasis for the Wolves.

“I think we have to do a better job of swinging the ball on the weak side,” Muhammad said. “It’s so stagnant sometimes and we’ve struggled scoring the ball and that is something that coach has been talking to us with.

“(Interim coach Sam Mitchell) made a statement that we really need to start swinging the ball to the corners because I’m sitting there also for a wide open three,” Muhammad added.

The corners are one spot Muhammad resided in during an overtime shooting session at 11 p.m. Tuesday night at Mayo Clinic Square practice facility.

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Nine get Hall of Fame nod on my ballot this year

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 14:44:14 -0600

With the 2016 Hall of Fame voting results set to be announced Wednesday, I have a confession to make.

I am having flashbacks to 1998 and one of the most stacked Cy Young Award races in National League history.

Back then BBWAA voters could list only three names instead of the current five. As national baseball writer at the South Florida Sun Sentinel at the time, I spent hours sifting through all the pertinent numbers from the amazing seasons of a handful of starting pitchers (including the Big Three of the Atlanta Braves) and the most dominant closer in the league, Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres.

This was back before WAR and xFIP and SIERA and BABIP, mind you, but the decision still left me with a major headache.

As much as I wanted to reward Hoffman for a season in which he converted 53 of 54 save chances with a 1.48 earned run average, I ultimately had to leave him off my three-man ballot in favor of Kevin Brown, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine -- in that order. While Hoffman had done all he could in his 73 regular-season innings, he couldn't possibly match the contributions of those three rotation workhorses, who turned in between 229 and 257 innings of similar excellence.

Hoffman wound up finishing second to Glavine by 11 points (99-88), and as I recall I was one of three to leave him off my ballot entirely. Even if I'd voted Hoffman first (giving him five additional points), he still would have fallen short of an award that has gone to an NL closer just three times since 1980 (Steve Bedrosian, Mark Davis and Eric Gagne).

Still, I felt pangs of guilt, especially after Hoffman staged an epic 30-minute press conference at his locker in San Diego that fall upon blowing World Series Game 3 on a three-run homer by Scott Brosius in the eighth inning. (In fact, Hoffman's calm dignity is what I remember most about covering that series.)

Hoffman never did win a World Series or a Cy Young, although he did finish a distant second to Arizona's Brandon Webb in 2006. Finishing up with two seasons in Milwaukee (2009-10), he concluded his outstanding 18-year career with 601 saves, an 88.8 percent conversion rate and a legitimate case for Cooperstown induction.

Those aforementioned flashbacks? I'm having those because, once again, I have left the esteemed Mr. Hoffman off my ballot (see photo), and it's not because I ran out of room this time.

After taking a ton of flak for my so-called "strategic ballot" last winter, in which I purposely left off overwhelming favorites Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson in favor of borderline (but deserving) candidates Alan Trammell and Larry Walker, I have used nine of my allotted 10 slots.

In alphabetical order, they went to: Jeff Bagwell, Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Trammell and Walker. The only addition is Griffey, who could challenge Tom Seaver's record for highest vote percentage, based on early public returns gathered by the indefatigable Ryan Thibs.

Hoffman, as of Monday afternoon, was polling at 62.3 percent, well below the 75 percent required for induction.

Fellow first-timer and all-world closer Billy Wagner, who by some key sabermetric measures has a stronger Cooperstown case than Hoffman, was polling at just 9.6 percent and in apparent danger of falling off the ballot (5 percent of the vote is required to stay).

That would be a shame as I'd very much like to have further opportunities to consider Wagner's place in baseball history along with that of Hoffman. Wagner's park-adjusted ERA, for instance, was 87 percent above league average, while Hoffman's was plus-41 percent.

Wagner's seven-year peak rWAR (as measured by Baseball-Reference.com) was better, too.

At worst, they should have two more cracks at induction before Mariano Rivera hits the ballot for the first time with the Class of 2019. Voting for Rivera and his 57.1 career rWAR -- better than double those of both Hoffman and Wagner -- shouldn't cause me much mental anguish at all.

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Towns got to know Cousins in summer pickup games

Fri, 18 Dec 2015 11:50:17 -0600

Friday night’s Timberwolves-Kings game at Target Center will be the first official meeting between centers Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins.

But the two former Kentucky centers played a lot of pick-up games last summer in Lexington.

“We are both very competitive, so it’s just going to be another chance to compete against each other,” Towns said after shoot-around Friday morning.

Cousins, a six-year veteran, didn’t play in their first scheduled NBA matchup on Nov. 27, a 101-91 Timberwolves win. The rookie Towns had seven points and eight rebounds as the Wolves improved to 8-8.

Towns was impressed with Cousins from on their summer workouts on their old stomping grounds.

"He’s very talented," Towns said. "Just got to play physical with him and just got to use your speed against him. You are talking about one of the best centers in this league.”

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Twinsights: “Carol of the Twins” references four active players

Thu, 17 Dec 2015 13:43:22 -0600

I’ve always been a sucker for “Carol of the Bells,” especially at holiday time.

So give the local nine credit for choosing that goosebump-inducing song — with a huge assist from the Angelica Cantanti Youth Choir — in producing an unforgettable marketing video you might call “Carol of the Twins.”

Along with a guest turn by Twins manager Paul Molitor, the slickly produced video includes references to just four active players: Brian Dozier, Glen Perkins, Miguel Sano and and Kyle Gibson.

Not a Joe Mauer, Phil Hughes or Byung Ho Park in sight, even though it’s pretty easy to find rhymes for those names. Hmmm.

And while the World Series champs and the South Siders draw a trolling mention, the Tigers and Indians go unprovoked.

Anyway, here are the full lyrics. Enjoy — and happy holidays!

Cheer Dozier on, walk off the lawn

Perkins can throw, heaters like whoa

Sano is here, strikes disappear

Gibby can hurl, makes batters whirl

Ding, gone, ding, gone, cheer on and on!

Sweeping KC, Sox gone in 3

Sixteen is near, oh what a year

Hope in the air, AL beware

Quick! Get your seat. That’s worth a tweet

After a win, dance like a Twin

Cannon in air, shirts shot with flair

TC Bear smile, wide as a mile

Stand up and sing, wow at a swing

Ding, gone, ding, gone, cheer on and on!

Quick, get your seat

Summer’s the time, sunshine is prime

Air always fair, friends come in pairs

Food! All about brats with some kraut

Day games and night, it’s always bright

Target Field joy, bring girl and boy

Nine inning fun, family has won

Kiss on the cam, woman named Pam

Walk the concourse, might need a horse

Up in your seat, the team to beat

Root for your Twins, help with some wins

Gonna, gonna, gonna, gonna, gonna win Twins!

Ding, gone, ding, gone, cheer on and on!

Root for your Twins!

Should Minnesota muskie season be extended?

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 21:50:19 -0600

Dominic Hoyos, 40, of Stillwater prepares to release a world record-caliber muskie he caught Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, on Lake Mille Lacs in central Minnesota. The 55-inch fish with a 30-inch girth -- giving it an estimated weight of 58 to 62 pounds -- will not be eligible for official world or state records because it was released. (Photo courtesy of Dean Block)

Right now, the muskies are probably still biting.

And with relatively mild temperatures and open water on nearly every muskie lake in the state, it would be a great time to fish for them.

But you can't.

The season closed Dec. 1, a hard and fast date that historically coincided with the arrival of ice.

But following a banner November bite and what some say is an arbitrary and premature closure of the season -- given the ice-free conditions -- muskie anglers are beginning to suggest the Department of Natural Resources reconsider the Dec. 1 closing date.

And DNR officials say they're open to the idea.

"We’re certainly hearing those comments," said Brad Parsons, central region fisheries manager for the DNR. "It’s all about opportunity for us. If these climate changes keep happening, we’re certainly going to look into it, especially if it’s not going to hurt the resource."

The ethos of modern muskie fishing in Minnesota is keeping the fish alive to swim another day. Few fish -- even the potential state and world record pictured above -- are even considered for the livewell. Boatside handling and release of muskies in the cool pre-ice water is believed to leave few muskies dead from the encounter. (Warm water temperatures lead to hooking mortality in released game fish, according to numerous studies.)

Traditional tip-up techniques for northern pike through the ice commended the angler to wait while the pike took the shiner or sucker, swam away, and then stopped to rotate the meal in its mouth. Only then should the hook be set, the wisdom goes. The problem is that pike can swallow the bait in that time as well, and that scenario -- especially with a wet fish writhing on potentially sub-zero ice -- can result in dead fish.

So ice fishing for muskies -- an inherently less-common fish than pike -- has long been eschewed.

But Dec. 1 doesn't always mean ice.

"I’d like to see the rule be open-water only," said Dominic Hoyos of Stillwater, who caught the potential world record Nov. 27 on Mille Lacs. The whopper was estimated to weigh between 58 and 62 pounds.

Hoyos said protecting muskies must be paramount, but he doesn't see fishing for them into mid-December as a problem if the fishing is done from a boat. "I do agree with protecting them from harassment as the year gets later (and females begin growing eggs in preparation for the early spring spawning season). But the number of guys actually going out this time of year is really low. We’re talking a dozen or 15 boats max on a lake like Mille Lacs -- at most 20. I just think it would bring more chances to more people if we could stay out longer on a year like this.

"I'm sure they were still biting on Dec. 2."

The post Should Minnesota muskie season be extended? appeared first on Outdoors Now.

Mille Lacs party fishing rule correction for northern pike

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 21:23:06 -0600

On Dec. 1, walleye fishing re-opened on Lake Mille Lacs and new seasonal regulations took effect for northern pike.

For pike, the bag limit is five (down from 10), and only one of them can be longer than 30 inches -- and such a fish can only be kept after an angler, or darkhouse spearer, has kept two pike shorter than 30 inches.

That earn-a-big-pike rule is exempt from usual party fishing allowances, the Department of Natural Resources clarified Thursday. If an angler wants to keep a 30-incher, he or she -- not someone else in the group -- must catch and keep the two smaller fish.

Keep reading for the DNR's full explanation.

Correction on party fishing on Mille Lacs Lake

Anglers and dark-house spearers are advised to closely read the regulations regarding party fishing on Mille Lacs Lake. A previous Department of Natural Resources news release and online material describing this regulation was inaccurate.

Regulations became effective Dec.1 that set the northern pike bag limit at five. Each angler or spearer can keep one pike longer than 30 inches only by first harvesting and possessing two pike under 30 inches from Mille Lacs Lake on the same day and by keeping them in immediate possession.

Anglers wishing to harvest a pike longer than 30 inches may not accept a pike shorter than 30 inches from another angler in order to fulfill the two-fish-under-30 requirement. However, anglers not harvesting pike larger than 30 inches may party fish for pike shorter than 30 inches.

“The bottom line is you need to take two northern pike shorter than 30 inches yourself before harvesting a pike longer than 30 inches,” said Brad Parsons, central region fisheries manager with the DNR.

Consistent with statewide regulations, dark-house spearers are not allowed to party fish, which means each fish a spearer harvests counts only toward that person’s bag limit. Because dark-house spearers are not allowed to party fish, spearers are not allowed to accept pike from another person to fulfill the two-fish-under-30 requirement.

For more information on Mille Lacs Lake management, see www.mndnr.gov/millelacslake. For Mille Lacs fishing and spearing regulations, see www.mndnr.gov/millelacslakeregs or contact the DNR Information Center at info.dnr@state.mn.us or 888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.Monday through Friday.

The post Mille Lacs party fishing rule correction for northern pike appeared first on Outdoors Now.

Twinsights: Breaking down Byung Ho Park’s contract details

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 12:19:17 -0600

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Korean slugger Byung Ho Park received a few extra perks in his four-year, $12 million contract with the Twins to help ease his transition.

According to a person with direct knowledge, Park will receive $25,000 per year for airline tickets between Korea and the U.S. He also will be paid $5,000 per year toward moving expenses.

The Twins also agreed to pay $50,000 per year for an interpreter that Park and his agency, Octagon, will select. A two-month transitional overlap is expected so Jae Woong Han, Octagon’s client manager, can help train Park’s full-time interpreter.

In addition to salaries of $2.75 million the next two seasons and $3 million in 2018-19, Park’s deal includes up to $750,000 in annual incentives, less than the $1 million that was previously reported.

The two-time Korea Baseball Organization MVP will earn $75,000 each year upon reaching 450 plate appearances, followed by $100,000 apiece for reaching 475, 500 and 525 plate appearances.

The figure escalates to $175,000 with his 550th plate appearance and then to $200,000 with his 600th plate appearance.

Park, 29, has averaged 577 plate appearances over the past four seasons with the Nexen Heroes, but that was in the 140-game KBO regular season.

Including a $6.5 million club option for 2020 ($500,000 buyout), the maximum value of Park’s contract is $21.75 million, not the previously reported $23 million.

The Twins have already wired the $12.85 million posting fee to the Nexen club, bringing their total maximum investment in Park to $34.6 million over five seasons. That’s an average annual cost of $6.92 million for a player coming off back-to-back 50-homer seasons in a hitter-friendly league.

In the Twins’ own accounting, the posting fee is spread out over four seasons, which pushes their projected 2016 payroll to roughly $108.7 million, including projections for six arbitration-eligible players. That’s slightly beyond their 2015 Opening Day payroll of $108.3 million.

Park’s bonus package is standard: $25,000 apiece for all-star and Gold Glove selection; $50,000 for league championship series MVP; $100,000 for World Series MVP and $100,000 for league MVP. Park also would receive $75,000 for finishing second in league MVP voting, $50,000 for finishing third and $25,000 for finishing fourth through sixth.

A seventh- through 10th-place finish in MVP voting would provide no bonus.

Twinsights: Path is clear for Byron Buxton

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 11:36:43 -0600

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- There are still no plans for center fielder Byron Buxton to play winter ball, Twins GM Terry Ryan said.

Buxton is spending his offseason in Georgia, working on his conditioning and girding himself for what he hopes will be his first full season in the majors.

“He’s a pleasure to coach and manage,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said this week. “I’ve been around him enough since he signed to see the type of personality and makeup and desire.”

After a disappointing rookie season that included another injury absence, this time due to a left thumb injury, Buxton has a clear path to the Opening Day job in center field. However, he must show he’s ready to hit at the big-league level after batting just .209 in 138 plate appearances last season.

“The transition for him, level to level, has always been how to deal with the next level of pitching,” Molitor said. “And we saw that somewhat in his at-bats at the major league level. We saw some improvement, particularly in September.”

With the trade of Aaron Hicks, it would likely require Eddie Rosario or Danny Santana to handle center field if the Twins determine Buxton needs more time at Triple-A. Still considered by many the game’s top prospect, Buxton turns 22 on Dec. 18.

“There will be a question about whether Triple-A at-bats are needed for him to start the season or will he make an impression that will be so favorable that we will lean to go with him right out of the chute,” Molitor said. “Either way, he’s going to be an impact player, I believe, for a long time. We’re just going to see when that clock starts ticking. That’s the only aspect.

“He’ll become a better base stealer with experience. His defense is already top end. It’s just going to be a matter of finding ways to utilize his offensive skills .. and most of that is going to come with pitch recognition and learning the strike zone and how to put the ball in play.”

Briefly

--As expected the Twins lost Double-A reliever Zack Jones in the major league portion of the Rule 5 draft. The Milwaukee Brewers took him for the $50,000 draft fee and now must carry him on their big-league roster throughout 2016 or offer him back to the Twins for half the draft price. Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2012, has a high-90s fastball but an inconsistent slider. He also struggled at Chattanooga last season.

--The Twins made no selections in the Rule 5 draft, neither in the major league or minor-league phases. They also were fortunate not to lose anybody, which vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff attributed to “the art of protection” when rosters are set.

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Twinsights: Miguel Sano decides to end his winter-ball season

Thu, 10 Dec 2015 11:02:37 -0600

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --Miguel Sano has unilaterally ended his season in the Dominican Winter League so he can focus on conditioning and the transition to corner outfield.

There are no injury concerns, Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Thursday as the winter meetings ended.

“He has not been shut down but I have heard that he has decided to not play,” Ryan said. “It’s not because of us or anything that I have expressed. I have not talked to him about that. It might have come from somebody else, but it didn’t come from me.”

Sano recently left the Estrellas club for 10 days due to a prior commitment in Chicago. Upon his return, he hit a mammoth home run that lit up the internet, but his final game was Saturday.

Overall, he played 15 games, splitting his time between third base and designated hitter. In 54 at-bats, he hit two homers and drove in six while hitting six doubles.

Sano, who finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting, struck out 15 times and drew eight walks while hitting .241 with a combined on-base/slugging percentage of .770.

Erik Beiser, minor league strength and conditioning coordinator for the Twins, recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to work with Sano.

“Just maintenance,” Ryan termed those sessions, which are expected to continue. “We want to keep an eye on him. Let’s take a look.”

After reaching 268 pounds by the end of the regular season, Sano has been given a weight target of 255-260 pounds. Ryan said he thought the 22-year-old slugger could reach that goal by the time spring training opens in February.

“He’s a man,” Ryan said. “He knows what he’s got to do.”

Now that Sano is on the 40-man roster, the Twins cannot dictate to him where he should conduct his offseason workouts, which were split last winter between the Dominican and the Twins complex in Fort Myers, Fla.

“He can do it wherever he chooses,” Ryan said. “Wherever he wants to do it, I’m OK with it. I think the player should have that ability and freedom to make the decision to get his best interest in his mind. He doesn’t have to check in.”

After Sano was limited to two games the past two winters in the Dominican due to problems in his throwing elbow that eventually required Tommy John surgery, Ryan was just pleased to see him get a few more at-bats.

“I do appreciate him playing,” Ryan said. “I kind of like the fact he’s got some loyalty and got some at-bats. We’ve got some things here we’ve got to accomplish for him making the transition from infield to outfield. However he thinks it’s best for his interests, I’m in.”

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Twinsights: Lefty specialists might not meet Twins criteria

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 20:49:33 -0600

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the Twins continue their search for left-handed relief help, either through trade or free agency, pure specialists will be lower down the list.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday he would prefer to find lefties that can handle right-handed batters as well. Ideally, they also should be able to work more than one inning at a time.

“I’ve never been one for that one-hitter stuff and I’ve never been one for just one inning,” Ryan said. “You’d like to have a guy that could at least compete against righties.”

Free agent Matt Thornton, 39, held lefties to a .198 average last season with the Washington Nationals while righties hit just .229 against him. However, righties reached base at a .333 clip compared to .205 for lefties.

Thornton, who struck out just 5.0 batters per nine innings, has no issue with working more than an inning at a time. He was asked to do so just three times in 60 outings last season.

Along with Neal Cotts, Thornton is a lefty reliever in whom the Twins continue to express interest, along with several others.

“Sometimes you have to end up going situational,” Ryan said. “That would (not) be my first priority, but sometimes it doesn’t go that way.”

Rookie left-hander Ryan O’Rourke, meanwhile, held same-sided batters to a .171 average and a .560 combined on-base/slugging percentage. Against righties, however, those numbers were .231 and .764.

O’Rourke has made three recent outings for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League, where he is working on a split-change he learned from Twins bullpen coach Eddie Guardado. It’s essentially the same grip Guardado showed starter Mike Pelfrey, who enjoyed surprising success with it.

A changeup typically helps neutralize opposite-sided batters.

Briefly

--The Twins continue to show little interest in entertaining trade offers for third baseman Trevor Plouffe, even as he heads toward an arbitration raise projected at $8 million next season. “He fits on the club,” Ryan said. “I’ve said it publicly and I’m still saying it publicly.”

--Ricky Nolasco, even with $25 million and two years on his contract, will have to earn a spot in next year’s rotation. “He will come in to compete for a spot, and we’ll see how it sorts itself out,” Ryan said. “If he’s healthy, which he is, he’ll come in and compete.” The bullpen could be a fallback option, but Nolasco would have to earn a spot there as well.

--Triple-A infielder Buck Britton, 29, signed a minor-league deal with the Twins. Britton, who spent last season at Oklahoma City in the Los Angeles Dodgers system, hit .262 with a .311 on-base percentage and seven homers in 2015. He saw the bulk of his playing time at third base, but he also made 10 starts at second and seven more at corner outfield.

--Class A shortstop Engelb Vielma, whose defense alone makes him one of the Twins’ top 20 prospects, has been working in Fort Myers with minor league strength and conditioning coordinator Erik Beiser and his staff. Vielma, still just 160 pounds, is trying to add muscle in an effort to boost his offense. Vielma, 21, hit just .208 with a .269 on-base percentage in 18 games for Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League.

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Twinsights: Glen Perkins slated to return to closer role from the start

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 19:50:22 -0600

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Kevin Jepsen, acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, stepped in ably to notch 10 saves in place of an ailing Glen Perkins down the stretch last season.

However, the Twins have already let Perkins, their three-time all-star closer, know the job will again be his once spring training opens.

“We’re going to go into it with Glen Perkins,” Twins general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday. “That’s what Paul (Molitor) has told him, at the tail end of the season. I believe he has explained that to Jepsen. That seems to make some logic.”

After a perfect first half across 28 save chances, Perkins struggled in the second half and eventually required three cortisone shots: two to ease a bulging disk in his neck and one more in his lower back. Perkins’ velocity dropped several miles per hour, but the Twins are confident he will be his usual self once camp opens in February.

“He’s fine,” Ryan said. “He’s healthy. No issues.”

Perkins, who turns 33 in March, has two years and $12.8 million left on a below-market deal that includes a club option for 2018 at $6.5 million. That option converts to a player option should Perkins be traded.

According to a person with direct knowledge, a few teams looking for late-inning relief help have asked about Perkins’ availability at the winter meetings. Those conversations didn’t get very far.

“We’ve got a little bit of a luxury,” Ryan said. “We’ve got some guys with experience at the back end there.”

Ryan wouldn’t characterize how he responds to teams that express potential trade interest in either Perkins or Jepsen, the latter of whom is projected for a salary bump to $6 million next season.

Jepsen, 31, could become a free agent next winter.

“You know you’ve got to listen,” Ryan said. “It’s just part of the job description.”

The Twins, however, are looking to add to their bullpen, not subtract.

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Mitchell repeats how close the Wolves are to wins

Wed, 09 Dec 2015 18:31:49 -0600

For the third consecutive day, Timberwolves interim coach Sam Mitchell repeated that his team has been competitive in all but one game this season.

With close games, one play can be isolated as a catalyst for a loss. On Wednesday, Mitchell said one of those plays was Chris Paul’s three-pointer before halftime in the 110-106 loss Monday to the Los Angeles Clippers. The play and missed opportunities down the stretch — the turnover on the inbound pass to Andrew Wiggins in the last minute — put the Wolves at 8-12 and on a four-game losing streak.

“I don’t think there is anything that we have to put our finger in the dam, and that the dam is breaking,” Mitchell said Wednesday.

If the Wolves lose Wednesday to the Los Angeles Lakers, who have the worst record in the Western Conference at 3-1, there will likely be more than one thing to point blame.

But Mitchell said some of those isolated plays can be missing out on loose balls or careless turnovers.

“I look at the scores throughout the NBA and I look at some of the young teams getting beat and that’s to be expected from some of the young teams to take their lumps and get beat, but our guys thus far, knock on wood, they’ve been in every game I would say except for one,” Mitchell said.

The presumed one game Mitchell is referring is the 129-116 loss to still-undefeated Golden State on Nov. 12.

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