Thursday’s (non)practice update
Posted on March 27th, 2008 – 2:36 PMBy Kent Youngblood
Greetings. Youngblood here, with not a whole lot to report.
That’s because the Wild didn’t skate Thursday and only a handful of players came in for off-ice workouts. The only one skating was Todd Fedoruk, who went on with his 3-year-old son.
Jacques was there and I asked him why he had scratched Benoit Pouliot last night. Just the matchups, he said, what he was looking for against Edmonton. He said he doesn’t usually scratched someone based on one or two games, but tries to look at the bigger picture.
For example, he said, Pouliot had played better in the past couple days than James Sheppard, but Jacques went with Sheppard Wednesday because of the season-long resume Sheppard had. Jacques did say that he would consider playing Pouliot ahead of Sheppard in a future games. Either way, it appears Jacques is intent on keeping Demitra at center down the stretch and into the playoffs.
One other thing: Brian Rolston was interviewed on XM204 this morning and it will be replayed this afternoon on NHL network. That’s it. Have a good afternoon.
233 Responses to "Thursday’s (non)practice update"
I appreciate the fact the Wild didn’t skate today, but considering the team can clinch a playoff spot tomorrow night, this update sux!
If there’s nothing to report, there’s nothing to report. Maybe he could interview Fridge’s kid, huh?
I really wanted to know if Benny P got to run the popcorn machine last night!
You never let the new guy run the pop corn machine.
Seems odd that JL would consider playing Benny Poohbah AHEAD of Shep, considering that James has been here all season, and Pouliot just got called up!
Perhaps JL senses that Shep has hit “the wall” or something.
Long term - I still think Sheppard is/will be the better player.
Why JL prefers to keep Demo at Center and not move him to Wing is baffling. Wish Russo or Youngblood would push that issue more…
We could run 3 scoring lines IMO if we moved Demo to a wing, and let Pouliot center a line instead (keeping Sheppard in the lineup, along with Koivu and Belanger)
Possible topics:
1) Ask JL if Parrish played himself back into the lineup for another game after last night’s effort or is he relegated to the bow-wow house again?
2)Why the up-tick in Boogie’s playing time since he came back from injury? Not his usual 3 minutes.
3)Does JL think having Boogie, Fridge and Simon on the bench at the same time may be useful come playoff time?
4)What’s the status of Rammer?
5)Anybody else coming down with the poopies like PMB had earlier this week?
6)Is Demo’s leg “injury” anything to be concerned about since he didn’t skate earlier this week but played last night?
7)In 8 of the last 9 games the team has put decent-to-very good effort (Monday the exception). Does JL seem to think his squad is getting geared up for the playoffs?
8)How is Belanger’s foot? He took a shot off the foot last night and D&D made mention that he was “hobbling” a bit.
Yah, you’re right. Nothing new to report, especially when you don’t bother to put the time in to look for it.
Is Nummi done for the season? Have heard absolutely nothing about his health.
He said he doesn’t usually scratched someone based on one or two games, but tries to look at the bigger picture.
I wonder what Carney would say to that.
Woodcock: That would be topic #8.
Sorry, #9
DB, all good topics, but if no one is there to talk to, difficult to get answers to the questions.
srv had drizzlers last night
OK, just catching up again…
No to three years for Rolston, especially if it’s for big bucks. Once a guy crosses 35, you just can’t do that. Too risky. Russo makes some good points about what he brings to the team and all that, but I’ll say it again. With the new salary cap, you have to be very prudent with your dollars and you can’t be taking long-term risks to your cap like that. He should expect one year offers the rest of his career. I don’t care how good of shape he’s in. Look at Morrison in Vancouver. He hadn’t missed a game in forever prior to this year and now he’s gotten dinged good twice. The other thing is this: very few players are not replaceable. Rolston’s not one of them.
Should we start a pool on who gets the drizzlers next?
I’ll go with Radio, for no particular reason, just ‘cuz.
BNAG: On non-skatnig days players come in for treatments; they come in to watch video clips of their past performances and/or upcoming opponents, etc; they come in for light non-ice workout. Aside from the All-Star Break, there is no such thing as a “day off” anymore.
Let’s not.
Gabby will be next, and while sprinting to the toilet, he will tweak the groin again!
Dampland - bite your to - er … fingers.
VoR ….
If I somehow accurately depicted how Gabby will next get hurt, I will volunteer to suit up for WILD during a practice, and while Simon, Boogie & Fridge are on the ice, I will shout at the top of my lungs that “Canadians are all blanky blank *#&!@# and are wimps, etc. etc.
Then later after I get out of the hospital, I will post here that I was sorry for jinxing Gabby.
That may be true DB, but the way I read what #2 had to say was that it was slim pickins’ for talking to anyone.
What if JL gets the drizzlers? Does that mean optional skates are back on?
It might be safer to step in front of a bus on Nicollet Mall.
If JL gets the drizzlers, then KC comes up from Houston to fill in.
VoR,
That may be true, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!
At least prior to the beat down, I would have had a chance to skate with the Wild.
Plus, I ‘m way bigger that Fridge, so I might have a chance against him …..well until Simon and Boogie join in.
Then call me “Captain Turtle”
I think it would hurt less to step in front of a bus but way more entertaining the first way, especially if it ends up on Youtube.
I think most of us are bigger than Tie Domi, but that doesn’t mean much 
Gabby will be next, and while sprinting to the toilet, he will tweak the groin again!
WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE IN FRONT OF THE LADY PUNK!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry for that Tommy Boy moment 
SS6, JL doesn’t get the drizzlers, or at least he would never let on that he has them.
Why can’t these guys just strap on a Depends and get out and play!
BNAG: All 8 of my topics that I posted could have been directed to either JL or the trainers, all of whom were in attendance today. I realize that I am REALLY picking nits with this, but I gotta have my Wild info sine the team is going to clinch a playoff spot in less than 30 hours!
From the last thread.
Phil: I’ve also wondered why his family is still in Florida. Maybe his wife liked her Dr. there too much to move.
Damp: Old & Wise. Nice. I had fun growing up between the “Captain” Kirk, and Wise jokes. At least I always know I was born Wise.
VoR,
Yeahm good point about Domi …..
my face hurts just thinking about it.
How about this,
The Wild win out, and we just forget I mentioned the whole thing.
sound good?
How big was Ulfie Samuelsson? I remember seeing Domi drop him with a sucker punch once. When i saw that, I giggled until I threw up.
Here is a good one of Tocchet getting the better of Ulfie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riduJ-z-VyA
And here is that Domi/Ulfie clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnKxV9ilsqo&feature=related
Here is a good one of Tocchet getting the better of Ulfie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riduJ-z-VyA
And here is that Domi/Ulfie clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnKxV9ilsqo&feature=related
Tommy Boy. Love it Rob.
Tommy: “Did you hear I graduated?”
Richard: “Yeah, and just a shade under a decade, alright.”
Tommy: “Lots of people go to school for 8 years.”
Richard: “Yeah. They’re called doctors.”
“Come on guys, its all ball bearings these days! “
Kirk, did you eat a lot of paint chips when you were a kid?
Kirk, maybe, but that’d be pretty selfish…maybe she’s a freeze baby?
And I think you have the right name for Ms. Lima’s suitor.
And did I hear a “Niner” in there?
Thought I’d pass this along.
On another front I’m going to tell you something that I’m not supposed to share. The people involved don’t want this information getting out because that’s not what they’re about. As Kurtis Foster was laying on a opererating table getting his leg repaired, the Minnesota Wild had quickly made arrangements to get his fiance to the San Jose. Chris Snow the Wild’s Director of Hockey Operations stayed behind to make sure Kurtis Foster was getting the best possible care by keeeping the communication going between the Wild and Sharks Medical Staff. One of Kurtis’ first visitors at the hospital was Greg Jamison. The Sharks President and CEO brought by a gift basket and showed some kindness to the injured Wild Defenseman. Shortly after GM Doug Wilson dropped by. He visited and asked if there was anything Kurtis needed . Foster asked if there was some way he could watch some hockey. In very quick order Paul Fink the Sharks Manager of Hockey Technology was at the hospital setting up a computer and slingbox so Kurtis could watch his team go for a playoff spot. By the way, the “quick order” was delayed by Paul being stuck in the hospital elavator for two hours. Subsequently Doug Wilson has visited Kurtis every day this week. Other important Sharks personel like Director of Hockey Administration Rosemary Tebaldi and Owner Kevin Compton have been instrumental in the compassionate deeds displayed to Kurtis Foster and his fiance. These people are kind, selfless and caring. These people are the reason the Sharks and Wild are great franchises in the NHL. If you’re a hockey fan you should know about these people. As a Sharks’ employee, I’m very proud of them.
Very classy of the Sharks to make sure Foster is comfortable as can be under the circumstances.
ATX: Why? :o)
It’s nice to know that the Sharks Org is doing those things to help out. I hope he gets to go home soon, when you feel crappy there really is no place like home.
Toivu,
If that is true, than “good on them” to the Sharks for being classy.
I sure hope Kurtis can make it back to Minnesota sometime soon. (then again maybe he doesn’t even live in MN)
I think it would be a big lift for the team, if Kurtis was watching from a suite during the Wild’s final home game of the season.
Thanks toivo. That is a good thing they are doing. Hopefully Foster is feeling better.
Weren’t we wondering a couple days ago how Kurtis was able to watch the games when they were blacked out on CI? I guess now we know. Very classy move by the Sharks org.
I gotta believe the Wild could charter a private jet outfitted with a bed to get him home.
In fact, I know a guy who brought his daughter home from Oregon after she was in a bad car wreck and still in a bed. They had that all set up on the jet for him, and even landed at the downtown St Paul airport.
Wheel him on over to United and then run him over to the XCel for games.
Toivo - thanks for that info and link. Great to see that the Sharks Org is a class act.
Damp - it would really fire up the crowd at the X if Foster could do the “Let’s Play Hockey” cheer before a SCP game.
Yeah, that’s a pretty class act by the Sharks. I think I gained a lot more respect for them as an organization (assuming it’s all true).
Ron Wilson’s still a quack though.
BROTHERS CAN’T SHAKE HANDS! BROTHER GOTTA HUG!!
Since it is kind of slow here today, I thought I’d throw this out.
Any predictions on who and want position the WILD will be drafting come June?
I’m guessing they will finish up with the 20-22nd pick in the draft.
I think the Wild have to go for a big “defensive” D-man, who plays the body well.
Just got to work and found out they basically just need me to do one story, so I’ll be working like three or four hours. I might be home to catch the final 10 minutes or so of the Penguin game. I think that makes me angrier.
one of these guys might be available around then for the Wild to draft….
Jake Gardiner, D
Minnetonka HS (MN-HS)
Height: 6.02 Weight: 170
Best player on the ice. Every time he touches the ice he creates plays. He can’t be left alone or he’ll take
over the game. Has a jump in his stride that makes him hard to grab onto or tough to play 1 on 1. Still
believe he’ll go first round, high. Dynamic player. Good showing for a half dozen NHL scouts.
Eric Mestery, D
Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Height: 6.04.7 Weight: 195
Mestery is a smooth-skating defenseman. The first-round, seventh overall bantam pick, by the
Tri-City Americans in 2005. Has great hockey sense and is very positionally sound. He will play in all
situations and will be a big part of the Americans run for the playoffs. He needs to bulk up and grow into
his frame. Mestery who could be somewhat of a late bloomer could put it all together. He has two
attributes that cannot be overlooked — size and a tremendous skating ability as he makes it look
effortless.
“In fact, I know a guy who brought his daughter home from Oregon after she was in a bad car wreck and still in a bed. They had that all set up on the jet for him, and even landed at the downtown St Paul airport.”
VOR, for some reason that just makes me think of that scene in Airplane! where the girl is flying home like that. It’s not a funny situation, but that is the image that popped in my head. I may be a horrible person.
Kevin, you work for a newspaper or something??
Just looked at the video of Patrick Roy’s kid. Holy Hannah!!! This kid needs some therapy. Go to SI.com. They have a story but they also have a link to the video. Yikes
Yes I do, Austin. I mentioned once some time ago that I’m like a super-mini-sized Russo. I think I compared him to the NHL-level while I was the little 5-year old tykes league. Been a sportswriter at this small newspaper for over three years, yet I’m only part-time and I’m starting to wonder about a change of scenery.
ROY’s kid went totally aprs*#t in that video on youtube.
It was disgusting how he went after a totally unwilling combatant, who did NOTHING to provoke him.
ok folks, I am out of here! Have a good one.
Oh yeah, I do remember that now Kevin. I was a journalism major at Pitt… I decided half way through my Senior year that Newspaper writing wasn’t for me. Guess I should have figured that out sooner.
Well, better than getting your degree then working in the field for a while before realizing it wasn’t for you. It’s not that I’m tired of it though; just today when I had to cover for someone I have to work on a story that I really don’t want to, AND it overlaps with a home Penguin game.
Two and a half years ago I was thisclose to covering the Penguins. Then my boss got arrested (which is really a rather hilarious story that I love telling) and that changed things completely.
Kevin - If you’re starting to wonder about a change, it is time for a change. Otherwise you end up old and bitter. Life’s too short to work at something you don’t like.
Unless you’re getting paid obscene amounts of money but you said you were a journalist so that doesn’t apply. 
Hmm… Entry draft? Well, we don’t know the order quite yet, but we should be picking in the early 20’s somewhere.
Barring a trade to improve position, there’s a kid in Farjestad named Motin that’s mobile and can hit hard. There’s your big DD man. I think he’s be in the available area, depending on our draft position.
Another one is Stefanovich, a center with some size, but he might be gone come round 20. He’s probably near the top of the QMJHL list.
Anyone got any other that look good?
Regarding the money comment, you’re exactly right, Bead. And I’m actually already bitter, so it’s just a case of becoming old.
It’s fine most of the time, except in situations like today, when I have to miss a game to work on something unpleasant. Yesterday was a bad enough day, then I got the call from work that put things over the top.
Yeah Kevin, I think I could enjoy sports writing… but I only had interest in writing about video games at the time, and that has not worked out for me. At least I am in the video game industry now… just nothing to do with writing.
I’d be spinning a different story (heh, pun not intended) if I WAS covering the Pens. Since that didn’t happen…
Of course, it lets me continue attending games as a fan. I’ve had that internal debate pretty often though, if I should push to cover them or not.
“Bitter is good in beer. Old is good in wine. Change is good for attitude.” - t-shirt in Minnapolis
Its all a matter of perspective. Hope the writing goes quickly and you get to see more of the game.
My attitude about life and most everything else does indeed suck and could probably use a change, I freely admit it, Bead.
Thanks for the warm wishes. Fortunately one of my few gifts is I write fast, so I’ve got that going for me.
Which, you know, is nice.
Kevin, You aren’t friends with the Dalai Lama are you???
I split my tickets with him one year!
He’s a hell of a golfer I hear.
He holds his own.
Except for that time he hit it into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier.
ATX, you’re a developer, right? Sony or Bioware?
Are you asking my preference?? BioWare for sure. They do great work.
Figured you might work for one of them. I know both have offices down there. Ya, Bioware does do good work, agreed.
Nah, I work for a smaller devleoper. Just click on my name and you will see it.
Big hitter, the Lama.
Kevin - I’m just curious, and you might have explained this before, but how again did you get caught up in Russoville? Do have MN connections?
Hockeydad, Burns is on his fantasy team. I think he seceretly loves the Wild.
Failing that, he enjoys our company here in Russoville.
I guess he enjoys our company.
I think we amuse him. Which I am totally okay with.
I believe we amuse the Don as well.
This truly is not your ordinary newspaper sports team blog/message board.
Sooo, not a lot going on in the West tonight. I guess it’s a Go Sharks night, huh?
Well, those are kind of boring in the long run. You also get more trolls and I don’t think we would stand for a general population of trolls. The Don has a rather fanatical following due to the intelligence level of his writing and we usually get rid of any trolls pretty quick. I don’t know about anyone else but I’m sure I will follow Mr. Russo’s career with interest no matter who he writes for or about. He’s that good.
What time do the Sharks start?
In regards to your comments about this blog, would you say we are a cut above?
Sharks start at 9pm Central tonight.
From AP. I like to read the part about them losing three straight, falling to 8th etc. Makes me warm, and fuzzy:
“Provided everything goes well, we expect Roberto to join the club in Minnesota tomorrow,” said Steve Tambellini, the Canucks’ vice president and assistant general manager.
Vancouver has lost three straight games to fall to eighth in the Western Conference, two points ahead of ninth-place Nashville in the race for the final playoff spot.
The Canucks have known for a while that Luongo, who is third in the NHL with a 92.1 save percentage, might have to leave during the season. He skipped the All-Star game - and Vancouver’s first home game after that - in late January to spend time with his wife.
We are definitely a cut above. We’ve even had visitors from other teams stop by and say so. Of course, we’ve also got one of the best hockey writers in the business providing us with information to comment on so that helps.
Let’s not break our arms patting ourselves on the back too much. We have our share of nitwit comments especially following a loss. But the good news is we don’t get so many comments that we can’t digest them. I briefly looked at the Twins blog and too many comments to follow the thread.
NiNY, just bought a bottle of McCarthy’s, an Oregon attempt at replicating a aingle malt, and a bottle of Dalmore based on the reviews here-we’ll see. Meanwhile back at the X tomorrow. You know I dislike the Canucks but I guess I hate the Flames more.
I was only trying to draw the Don out so we could ask him all our questions. It usually works with writers…
It’s hard to hate the Nuk’s these days. They are just kind of pathetic now. No Bert, no Cooke, no Ruutu. Ohlund, Burrows, and Kesler just don’t conjure the same level of disdain for me.
True altho I can definitely work up some for Burrows and Kesler but just not at the same level as Ruutu and Cooke.
I hear smuggla sprained his elbow patting himself on the back during the Wild’s last winning streak.
I hope he’ll be ok.
I hope the game is over early tomorrow night. I don’t want to try to play the first set and watch TV. I suck bad enough when I am concentrating… 
Give them time Kirk. You can’t build a Cooke or Rutuu over night. Those guys were part of a very notorious team for a long time. I’m sure Kesler and Burrows will be hateable soon enough.
I’ll have to drag the better half out some night to see you in action kj. Not this Friday but hopefully soon.
Do you ever play up North?
Well, bath time is always an adventure. I’m a little damp but it’s only water.
SS6: I have no doubt that those boys will rise to the hateable status again. That dude is going to have to re-do the Canuck’s Rap.
Speaking of Ruutu, he has a shorty, and two helpers tonight.
SS6…Salida Depot in Becker…closer to St. Cloud, no?
We’re there again on April 26th.
Burrows is every bit the pain Ruutu was.
There is only one Cooke.
Just remember that Kesler got Jesse Boulerice so pissed that he cross-checked him in the face, Ohlund knocked Koivu out for 25 games, and Burrows instigated a fight with Rolston while still wearing his visor.
Bunch of no class shitheels
we now have BUF and OTT going to SO
Did Roy’s SO goal count? They were looking at it, and CI cut out the feed.
i didn’t notice anyone taking about it.. OTT lost. too bad! My friend from Canada is a OTT fan and cheered for the Wild last night so i gotta help her out too.
Sorry for the extended silence, that pesky “work” thing got in the way.
Hockeydad: Austin mostly has it right. I’m in two fantasy leagues and I have Burns on one team and Backstrom on the other. During the Harding-backstrom rotation, I started scouting newspapers in the Minny area that might provide informative reports on who would start. I found this one, immediately determined it was of the highest quality and bookmarked it.
I’d been around and read the comments (well most of them) for quite a while before I actually posted.
And yes, you do amuse me.
The only MN connection I have is… uh, never mind.
Hmmm. I heard them say “They’re taking a look at this. Gerber said the puck wasn’t in continuous motion per the rule”. Then it shut off.
Kevin: Did you make it home to catch any of the game?
Nope. Made a fateful stop for food that killed the slight chance I had.
Did you tape it? Just don’t want to let a score slip if you’re waiting to watch it. Kind of like that Seinfeld episode where Jerry avoided human contact all day to watch the Mets game but Kramer blew it for him.
By the way, can you BELIEVE Hossa got hurt again? Early in the third, “upper body injury.”
Ugh.
Nah, I thought I was going to watch it at work, but we had the NCAA tournament (which I normally love) on, so I tracked it with NHL.com, then listened to the end on the way home. Thanks for the consideration though.
That sucks Kevin. Do you have a gut feeling on whether or not they will be able to resign him this summer?
A goal and an assist for Laraque. Has that ever happened before?
I don’t really think they will, especially if they make a deep playoff run (raising the price tags of Fleury, Malone and maybe Orpik if Therrien decides Orpik’s out of the doghouse).
woodcock: he did it Dec. 23 against Boston this season.
Hey SCSU fans: even though your hate the Gophers is UND-like, good luck in Albany on Friday. BTW, is there a local TV option? I was disappointed ESPN didn’t let FSN North have it.
A veritable scoring machine.
Indeed he is, but he’s got nothing on Ruutu’s current streak (4 goals, 2 assists in the last 6).
I was watching some of the Rangers vs. Devils. Shanahan scored, and they said it was his 23rd of the season, and that leads the team. They have Jagr, Gomez, and Drury but Shanny leads the team with 23 goals? That’s crazy.
Yup, the Rangers are only where they are because of Lundqvist. Scoring’s been a huge problem. Gomez and Drury were busts for a while, but they’ve both been playing much better I think.
Was the hit on Hossa dirty? I saw Malkin was hobbled by a shot at some point as well. Looks like he came back OK though.
I haven’t seen the hit yet, but it’s been described by one writer as a “hit from behind in open ice” and by another as a “blind check.”
Gah, where is everyone now that I’m home and plan to be up for a while?!
Hey Kev! I am about to go to bed though.
How about this: Petr Sykora and Miroslav Satan fought each other tonight. I wonder if those two have ever been in a fight before.
Just when I was starting to like you, Austin.
I feel that Kevin, sorry. But hey, I noticed that your Pens are #1 in the East now! That’s insane.
So rhe Leafs are offically out. Now there is a franchise that has been completely screwed up.
Just saw the hit on the news but it was brief and no replay, but it looked a little on the dirty side. Looked like Bergenheim targeted Hossa’s head and had his stick up.
Upon second look on a different newscast… maybe it was more an elbow than the stick. Started a bit of a melee after that.
Yeah, so my mood’s pretty decent, Austin. You’re forgiven your early sleeping habits.
So I still fear the Pens and the Canadians the most in the east. Both those teams are pretty dangerous. I dunno if the Wild will be worrying about it… but I hope so.
Talk about a roller coaster season… the Leafs were down and out, and then got back into it somehow, now they are out for sure. That’s gotta be rough.
Just imagine if Sid and Hossa can play together for a full game without injury. *rolls eyes* Wonderful trade.
The Leafs went on a lot of this surge without Sundin too.
yeah Kevin, if you guys can stay healthy I would say you gotta be the favorite in the East to make the SCF. I wouldn’t mind seeing that. Ever since Jager left I have liked the Pens a lot more.
The plug has been pulled. I am outta here. Take it easy Kevin, sorry about your luck tonight!
Ha.
It’s sad; the Pens fans always boo Jagr when he comes to town. He left town under some pretty nasty circumstances but I vehemently disagree with the boos. Without him, there’s probably no Cups.
I like how Fleury’s playing. He’s playing like a bona fide No. 1.
No worries, Austin. Later.
Maybe these injuries will lower Hossa’s price tag…
I still have nightmares of Mario, and Jagr dashing my boyhood Cup dreams as they dismantled the North Stars.
I’ve tried to avoid mentioning that when the subject sorta comes up.
I think it would be more painful if they were still here. You’re pretty fortunate to have 4 of the most dynamic players in the league play for your squad.
Yup.
Teehee.
The price is having a baseball team that hasn’t been relevant since Bill Clinton was President. In fact, a friend of mine once linked me a YouTube video of all the things that happened in the real world since the Pirates had a winning season.. I think the Berlin Wall was still up. AIDs wasn’t that big a deal I think. There was a Czechoslovakia (I know that’s not spelled right.)
Now I’ve depressed myself.
Chin up Kevin. Pitt has two cups, and a Super Bowl in the not too distant past.
Personally I’d trade two Twins World Series for just one of the two.
That’s true. The first four Super Bowls were before my time so I was thrilled with the win a couple years ago. And there are the two Cups.
Screw the Pirates. Screw baseball.
I found it.
FIVE MINUTES of stuff. Check out 3:04.
I’ve enjoyed what the Twins have done in the past. I’m just really having a problem with the way they continue to run that organization. I’m not a big basketball or baseball fan but I enjoy supporting MN sports teams. Unless they conduct themselves the way the Twins, and the Wolves have.
I’d probably support a basketball team if there was one here, and while I continue to follow and pay attention to the Pirates for at least a few months, I don’t support them in the sense of going to games. That’s an organization that’s been putrid. The Twins are competitive at least sometimes, but I also understand the frustration with them. And the Wolves, though I don’t follow the NBA.
The Pirates.. maybe the new management will change things. But the people they had running it the last godawful decade.. ugh. Makes you want to commit a war crime.
Too funny. The best player in hockey started kindergarten. The Wild got a little plug at 3:52. Nice.
The Wolves may not be quite at the Pirates level. They have to be close though. McHale hands out #1 draft picks to other teams like Snickers on Haloween.
Whoops. Missed an L in Halloween.
Yeah, I depressed myself again by watching it. That opening bit with Cabrera and Bream… you talk about heartbreaking. Baseball, naturally, was my biggest love when I was 11 back then. Then that happened….
I think, and I’d need confirmation or correction on this, that baseball can’t trade draft picks. Otherwise I’m sure the pirates would do the same. Instead, they give away 35-HR, 100-RBI players to division rivals for an old pitching rubber. Or they draft a RELIEF PITCHER with the FIFTH OVERALL pick because he’s CHEAPER to sign than one of the best offensive players in the draft. Or they draft the nation’s best HITTER and turn him into a PITCHER.
No, I’m not bitter. Really.
It’s time to call it a night. 5:30am comes pretty early. Have a good one Kevin. I’m going to try to dream up some good mojo for the Wild tomorrow night.
Talk at ya later, Kirk.
No bitterness detected here :o). G’nite.
hello,hello,hello,is anybody in there,just nod if you can hear me……
I’m still around, waiting to turn this blog into a Penguins blog…
Here’s hoping for a bounceback win by the Grease tomorrow night.
didn’t the pirates win a world series in 79?
the problem with the twins is we all want them to be run like the yankees or red sox and that just isn’t possible. the revenue just isn’t available here.
and think about it, the twins went to the playoffs 4 straight years recently, in a league where a small pct make the playoffs. one year they were probably a hanging curve ball away from making the world series.
they have been competitive and entertaining recently. it’s too bad the fan experience at the dome is so bad but that will change in a couple year.
Please; let’s not start the talk about how the “Little” Twins can’t compete. The owner is the third richest in MLB behind only Hicks and Steinbrenner; he put the club up for contraction a while back; has publicy begged for a new stadium for more than 12 years; finally gets a stadium on the backs of the taxpayers so his club “can compete” with the big boys when it comes to revenue and how does he repay the fans? By letting the team’s most popular player (Hunter) go for nothing and trades the best player in the game for 4 guys you wouldn’t know if they lived across the street. Let’s not fall into that “too small to compete” nonesense, either considering the Twin Cities is the 12th largest market in MLB.
“didn’t the pirates win a world series in 79?”
G*, if that is true, I was 1 year old at the time. That’s crazy.
Is it possible the Grease can regroup in time to knock off the Flickers tomorrow night in CowTown? I would say ‘yes’ but only if the Grease can come out of Snowville tonight with a pair of points. If they lose tonight, demoralization (?) will most likely set in and the Flickers could lay a spanking on them tomorrow.
I don’t want the Twins to compete. If they play well, that gives the Canucks a chance to win, and I think we can all agree that burying the Nucks tonight is more important than just about anything else at this point.
Sadly, I have been around for ALL of the Pittsburgh sporting wins.
I remember when they trounced the Vikings in ‘75 to win one of their Super Bowls.
I remember the whole ‘we are family’ deal. Although, Willie Stargill was one of my favorite players.
I was at Met Center to watch the Pens hoist their 1st Stanley Cup.
I think the Twin Cities area could be a sister city to Pitsburgh where sports is concerned. ‘Cept we would be the ugly step sister…
the yankees had revenue of $302 million dollars. the twins has revenue of $131 million. only the royals and marlins had lower revenue numbers.
based on those numbers, for the twins to have a $200 million payroll, they would incur losses of $69 million just on player salary alone. this doesn’t include the other costs of running a ball club.
so because the owner is a billionare we should demand that he take on losses of at least $100 million every year?
as for hunter and santana…the market for santana dried up and they got the best they could get. if anything they held out looking for more and the tables turned on them. santana was not going to sign with the twins after this season. the twins were willing to pay hunter for 3 years and he wanted 5. i don’t blame the twins for letting him go. they did sign morneau, cuddyer, mauer and nathan to nice long term deals. seems like they are doing ok.
Kevin - thanks for the explanation. Obviosuly, we’re glad to have you.
The Twins are buiding for 2010. Whether that will work, we shall see. In theory they have locked up a potentially good starting lineup. The starting pitching staff will be very inconsistent this year but there are a lot ot young pitchers. If they develop 2010 could be good–if not, back to the drawing board.
The Twins MIGHT finish 4th this year, if they can hold off the vaunted Royals. The Twins knew prior to the trade deadline what Sanatana was going to want and they should have known they weren’t goingh to sign him they should have dealt him in July, when the Yankeees’ pitching staff was killed with injuries. With Hunter, sometimes you pay a little extra to keep the stars. As always with the Twins, it’s addition by subtraction. Let’s not forget ALL of those years when the Twins were getting and EXTRA $25-30 million in revenue sharing and yet the team’s payroll was in the $30-35 million range. Pohlad has been a joke of an owner. Let’s talk Wild to keep the blood pressure down
Green*…the revenue is coming! the revenue is coming!
We’ll see how the payroll percentage holds up after the new ballpark is opened up.
The Twins have spent where they can - the deals you mentioned.
I think the Santana situation was a no-win one for the club. They weren’t going to get much in return no matter what because whomever dealt for him would have to pony up HUGE $$$ to re-sign him. And, if the Twins held out for too much, they’d get nothing.
Agree with Deep. They should have sold when the value (July) was high for Santana.
kj: The market for Johnnny Santana would have been the moon or beyond had the team had the foresight to dump him prior to the deadline last year. There’s no way they didn’t know then that he wasn’t going to take their 4-yr, $80 million offer. Waiting to ship him until they did was a collassal (?) mistake. The Hunter situation was handled with equal ineptitude. They should have known he wanted 4+ years during the season last year and if they knew they weren’t going to go more than 3 years, they should have shipped him at the deadline as well.
at the risk of turning this into a Twins blog, I agree with Green* - folks are delusional if they think Santana was re-signing here. If there was a mistake with Hunter, it was letting him play out last season when he had his career year at the plate. Even with that year, the contract he got from Anaheim was insane, IMHO. He’s not that good of a player. Time will tell, I guess. Unfortunately for the Twins, losing both of those guys in the same off-season was a PR disaster.
the foresight to dump him prior to the deadline last year
Uh, was that the year they were surging into first place with an almost unprecedented second half. You’re saying they should have traded Sanatana THAT August?
A new Mad Mike?
The Latest on the Flames
At practice on Thursday, the team played with opposite handed sticks and scrimmaged by playing in any position but their own.
Oh sorry - you mean 07, right?
http://forum.canucks.com/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=2&
Interesting “blog” on the Canucks site. Some very interesting reading.
pay a little more for stars? they offered hunter 3 years, 45mil. that isn’t reasonable? he said he wanted 5 at 75 and the angels overpaid at 5 and 90.
the twins were right in not chasing after a player that peaked. paying hunter $30 mil for the last two years of his deal is like the wild paying for yawnson.
Let’s not forget ALL of those years when the Twins were getting and EXTRA $25-30 million in revenue sharing and yet the team’s payroll was in the $30-35 million range
weren’t all those years 10 to 15 years ago now? it is clear the spending habits of the team have been much different since about 2000.
kj - absolutely the revenue is coming but it won’t be here until 2010. i also don’t think it will double the teams revenue which means the twins still won’t be in yankee territory, but should be a lot closer to the other teams, except KC, in the division. And if the payroll stays flat once 2010 hits, the team should get flamed. to predict that it will stay flat now, and i’m not saying you are kj because you ain’t, is more of our mentality around here to predict futility and failure becuase i think somehow it makes us feel good to be right. and if wrong it don’t matter because that means the team did right or won and that makes us happy too.
and to make clear, i 100% would have liked both santana and hunter to be in twins uniform this year and not happy to see them go. I just can’t blame this one on a cheap owner.
Um, wasn’t Santana more a less a scrap pile rule 5 guy not to long ago and he was beginning to look a lot more average last season. We’ll see if his thin skinned attitude will hold up in the New York media. Be careful what you wish for Johan! As far as Hunter, isn’t he like 35? Hunter was the teams best hitter when up or down by 6 runs. I guess I’d rather have Gomez, Young and Cuddyer possibly patrolling the outfield for the next 5 years.
G*: All those years when Chucky Pohlad was getting those millions and millions from rev sharnig, where do you think he was putting that cash? It wasn’t in improvements to the ball team; it wasn’t in improvements to the Inflatable Cat Box of a stadium; oh yah, that’s right, he was putting it under his mattress with is other billions. Pohlad sux and cannot go away fast enough. Give me an owner like Steinbrenner or Cuban who will do whatever it takes to win and come up with ways to create more revenue for their teams.
And yes, hockeydad, I meant July ‘07 for both Johnny Santana and Torri Hunter.
And G*: When have the Twins EVER paid more than market for a top player. Pucket, Hrbek, Radke, all took LESS money to stay here. Which is good on them, but it belabors the point the Twins will not go to the Market number to keep their top talent, whether they would be “overpaying” or not. Can’t really consider it to be overpaying, however, if that’s the number the market will bear.
G*: There are plenty of ways to flame Chucky Pohlad for being cheap and I agree that Santana and Hunter, well, maybe Santana, is an example of that. Then we’ll just have to chalk it up to incompetence in the front office. Geez, that’s a great combination for an organization, an owner who won’t spend and a front office that doesn’t know how to manage the team. Where can I get tickets?
Green*…all I meant by that was Twins ownership will be able to show their true colors once the added revenue kicks in.
Either they will spend more $$$ (wisely I hope) or they will say they need to replace the losses they have suffered and for us to ‘wait until the right opportunity’ for them to spend.
I’m thinkin once a banker, always a banker…
I can’t believe I let myself get wrapped up in Twins (72-90 in ‘08) talk when the Wild are 12 hours from wrapping up a playoff spot.
Alex Burrows sux!!!
Oh, and lets not forget that ‘cheapskate’ organEYEzation is the ONLY PRO SPORTS TEAM IN TOWN THAT HAS WON IT ALL…
So, will Danielle or Henrietta be a scratch tonight because of…er…’cramping’???
The market “bore” $48M for 4 years for Silva. Think we should have signed him for that? The market is sometimes crazy and it sure was there. Santana was not going to sign with us.
OMG, I miss the blog for a couple of days and it turns into a baseball blog??? WTF!?
For shame, Russoville. For SHAME…
oh yah, that’s right, he was putting it under his mattress with is other billions
i thought he burned it in his fireplace to heat his home.
Pucket, Hrbek, Radke, all took LESS money to stay here
puckett had the richest contract in MLB history at one time.
Can’t really consider it to be overpaying, however, if that’s the number the market will bear
true but the market is certainly skewed to the high end by 3 teams and to be honest, if MLB acted like a real market, a lot of team would have folded by now.
So, will Danielle or Henrietta be a scratch tonight because of…er…’cramping’???
funny chit
Which team did Silva sign with? Which team did Hunter sign with? It’s not always about the Yankees and Red Sox.
As far as Silva; there is no Cap in baseball, so yes, I think the Twins should have signed him.
Woodcock: You are making my point for me about Johnny Santana. Everyone and their mother knew the Twins were not going to sign him, so why not trade him in July last year when teams would have handed over the keys to the kingdom for him? Holding on to him as long as they did was a mistake and letting Hunter go for nothing was another mistake. If you have an organization that is not going to cough up to keep it’s top players, then it better have the accumen to trade them at the right time.
I’d like to see Boogie, Fridge and Simon in the lineup tonight and have the team play a physical version of hockey with the Nucks. I’m assuming Parrish is back running the popcorn machine tonight and Voros has been MIA the last few weeks anyway, along with Foy.
We’re just trying to draw you out of the woodwork, Wallshot.
So is Gina in her 28th hour of labor? I know when little Gato was born at 5:38 am the last thing I would have been thinking of doing was strapping on the pads and getting between the pipes 13.5 hours later, the 1st-20th things were SLEEP! And I wasn’t even the one going through the tough part!
i’d like to see one player after another chase burrows down until he just stays in the locker room with flu like symptoms
Can Boogie hold Burrows down and let SRV blow chunks on him!
http://forum.canucks.com/index.php?automodule=blog&blogid=2&
Interesting “blog” on the Canucks site. Some very interesting reading.
I barely made it through that. Maybe it’s her style or the fact that it’s a Canucks blog, I don’t know.
El:
Doesn’t matter if Seifeld’s long-lost brother is rested or not, he has sucked for the most part against the Wild. Expect some of the same tonight.
Too much baseball talk!! Aaahhh!! I hate baseball.
Mostly I was liking the bashing of the home team and the loss of players talk.
This almost made me hurl, I can get George Michael tickets for his concert at the X for $127! Cripes you couldn’t pay me 10 times that to go to that show. I paid $2 less to see Clapton. Me thinks this will not be a sellout and if it is, there are a lot of closet Wham fans out there!
Sorry, Go Wild!
Sorry, not that there’s anything wrong with closet Wham fans!
Hope this isn’t a bad sign for the day: Just got a notice that my playoff ticket delivery date has been postponed from today until Monday. I was hopin’ for a trifecta today: playoff tickets get delivered; Huskies FINALLY win a f*&**^ing NCAA game and the Wild clinch a playoff spot. Breakfast isn’t even digested yet and I’m already 0-for-1 
wake me up before you go go
ATX–hockey and baseball–the only two sports that matter.
So with Butch missing a game, Schultz now is at 174 straight. The last scratch I could find for him was March 19th, 2006.
Burns is right behind at 144 straight.
Green* - you make me laugh.
Go Huskies! Go Badgers! Go Princeton!
my tix left billings at 7:15am this morning
woodcock, I have to disagree. Hockey, Soccer, Football, Curling, Hurling (look it up), Austraillian Football, Skateboarding, Fishing, Golf and Formula 1 Racing are all better than Baseball.
i thought hurling was mostly a high school/college sport
wake me up before you go go
Thanks Green*…you stole my line.
How ’bout this one then:
Gulity feet have got no rythym
I don’t remember if that was a WHAM! song or just GM. Fortunately.
Was listening to XM 204 this morning as I drove to work through another snowstorm. The report on XM was that Luongo would miss tonights game. Anyone else heard anything similar?
G*, hurling is played prfessionally accross the pond. It’s insane. It’s like a mixture of 10 different sports in one.
ATX…there are just SO many jokes waiting to happen with that one…
Fire away kj!
Wild’s consecutive games streaks, 35 games minimum in a row:
Schultz 174
Burns 144
Sheppard 76
Gaborik 60
Fedoruk 43
Skoula 37 (now there’s a scary thought)
DB - how will you be watching the SCSU game - is a dish the only option?
Wild’n'NH, I think there are conflicting reports regarding Bobby Lou.
hurling is played prfessionally accross the pond
particularly during a world cup soccer year.
and yes aix, i know it is a real sport with a ball and sticks, played on a pitch.
I can’t believe I let myself get wrapped up in Twins (72-90 in ‘08) talk when the Wild are 12 hours from wrapping up a playoff spot.
Which is why I intentionally tuned out and got some work done the last hour or so. Too easy to get waaaaay off topic
ATX…is that sport sponsored by the IFOCE? (International Federation of Competitive Eating)
ESPNU. I’ve got DirecTV, wcich carries ESPNU. I do not know if the likes of Comcast, Mediacomm, DishNetwork, etc have that channel. 3 pm puck drop. Huskies have taken 3 of 4 from Clarkson the last 2 years, so there is reason for optimism, but that 0-fer-7 mark still hangs in the room like a wet fart.
Two surprising things about your consecutive games list, VoR: who would have thought at the beginning of the year that Shep would have such a streak? I know that our lack of depth at C plays a role, but still. Also - Fridge. I never would have seen that coming when he was claimed, either.
Check the angry mob in the stands:
Comcast does not have ESPNU so I am SOL on this one - best of luck this afternoon DB.
SCSU should beat Clarkson. CC clobbered them and they lost in the quarters of their tournament. Ah ATX, you just appreciate the histroy, cerebral nature of baseball. Yes, hurling is a frosh college sport or else one that used to be on ESPN in the early years like Australian rules football. I could write all kinds of derogatory stuff about football, basketball and auto racing but I will skip that. Go Wild.
DB - As far as I know at least my cable company Comcast doesn’t have ESPNU so I guess I’ll have to find a bar that carries the game. Oh, well there are worse things to do on a Friday afternoon. Now I just have to make sure my 2:30PM appointment is short and to the point. I can feel it, the first NCAA victory of the Huskies today!
Shooter brings the Twins and Hurling together:
Though the Twins aren’t ready to join the trend of major league baseball teams offering fans seats in all-you-can-eat sections, they admit they are studying the idea for 2010, when they will move into their new ballpark.
If any Twins staffers are reading this blow know this: If you get something that is in the universe of a Dodger Dog, I will come to Carl’s Palace 4x as frequently!
OK, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Time to step on someones throat tonight. Here is a home game against a team that is going to be desperate, however they are at the end of 3 games in 4 nights. We need to get the win.
And with or without Luongo, we still need to play well. I seem to remember the Nucks coming in to the X in Nov with Sanford starting and beating us.
Let’s go boys and put some pressure on the Flames as they start off on the road to end the year.
You realize That was all tongue in cheek yes?? I really am not a Hurling fan, I was just trying to drive home the point that Baseball is not fun to watch. Now, I do enjoy going to the ballpark (PNC Park is particularly nice) and having some beers. But I will never watch a basball game on TV. I also understand that the most compelling part of baseball is the batter/pitcher relationship, and how much strategery there is in batting/pitching. I also understand that baseball is a stat junkies wet dream. Unfortunately I find a sport where you can play two games in one day, you can be a fat old guy and still play, you spend a majority of the day chewing/spitting/scratchng your balls, a very uncompelling and very boring “sport”.
Adam, there cannot be worse food offered for sale at a professional sports stadium/arena that the crap served at the Dome (except for the Famous Dave’s stand). There is better served at my son’s mite games at local hockey rinks. It HAS to improve at the new ballpark.
Oh and woodcock, I never mentioned Basketball… It sucks too.
Unfortunately I find a sport where you can play two games in one day, you can be a fat old guy and still play, you spend a majority of the day chewing/spitting/scratchng your balls, a very uncompelling and very boring “sport”.
Austin, throw in drinking and you could describe bowling if you change it from scratching to wiping your balls!
El Gato, that is true. Although I do love bowling. I dunno if I could watch an entire match on TV, but I love to roll the ball. I am not sure I would call bowling a sport either though. It’s more of a beer drinking hobby.
Food for those who have not noticed.
