Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING TAKEOUT NEWS: 1-23-23.
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Bengals at Chiefs and 49ers at Eagles this weekend for the right to go to the Super Bowl. The least compelling divisional weekend I can remember. A lot of teams (including the Vikings) watched these four games and hopefully realized they’re more than just “one guy” away.
Twins Trade Arraez to Marlins
The worst kept secret in baseball is no more, as the Twins shipped reigning AL batting champion Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Pablo Lopez and two highly-regarded teenage prospects.
The Twins need pitching, and Lopez was durable last year (180 innings) with a 3.75 ERA. He strikes out more than a batter per inning, which is great but doesn’t always sit well with pitch count gurus like Rocco Baldelli.
You have to think that if Carlos Correa isn’t back in the fold, this deal isn’t made. Even so, this team was inept offensively last year, with no guarantees about Byron Buxton’s health. They’re going to have to win a lot of games 2-1 or 3-2 next year.
Wild Losing its Game
Winning masks a lot of issues, and such was the case for the last three weeks with the Wild. Ever since getting completely healthy, they’ve gotten away from their game. Isn’t that the way it is? The whole unit breathes a sigh of relief because it feels like things will come easy, but nothing comes easy.
The Wild played poorly in Saturday’s 5-3 loss in Sunrise, Fla.
Minnesota wraps up its four-game Southeast road trip in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The Panthers and Lightning games are the Wild’s “guest trip”, whether it be dads, brothers, mentors, etc. Most of my guest trip stories I’m contractually obligated to not go into…but I do remember we never played well on those trips including a shallacking one year in Toronto when every single dad was hesitant to get on the bus.
ANT Stars in Another Wolves’ Win
The Wolves moved to 8-3 in their last 11 with a 113-104 win over Houston at Target Center on Saturday. Anthony Edwards continues his ascent to being a top tier NBA player (at least others recognizing what Minnesotans have seen for two years), pouring in 44 points.
Minnesota got just enough from one other player (D-Lo’s 23). The Wolves can’t ride one guy forever, and it doesn’t work every night, but if ANT plays like that they can win any game. Rudy Gobert is still injured.
The Wolves are in Houston tonight.
Gopher Hockey
The Gophers and Michigan Wolverines swapped a pair of dramatic overtime wins at Mariucci this weekend in a matchup of top 10 teams. Minnesota tied it up late Friday before Matthew Knies found an open net in overtime. The kid is 6-foot-3, 234 pounds and you just wonder how the Toronto Maple Leafs will ruin him.
Jacob Truscott’s OT winner Saturday made the difference.
The Gophers host Michigan State this weekend.
On the women’s side, a pair of lopsided wins over Bemidji State, although the 4-1 win Saturday was close until the third period. The Gophers have won 12 straight but now face the other top three teams in the WCHA, beginning with No. 5 UMD in Duluth this weekend. Then they’ve got Ohio State and Wisconsin at Ridder Arena.
Gopher BB
The Gopher men had Michigan (!!) on the ropes on the road yesterday, leading the Wolverines 20-10 midway through the first half in a pretty ugly basketball game. The Gophers never trailed in the first half but Michigan overcame a woeful half. Ta’Lon Cooper led Minnesota with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Gophers host Indiana on Wednesday.
The Minnesota women lost at Purdue by 19. They’ve got eight days off after that game and don’t play until Sunday when they host Michigan.
Vikings’ DC Pool Growing
The Vikings have permission to speak to at least three candidates to replace Ed Donatell as the defensive coordinator. Former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores joins up and coming coordinators Sean Dasai and Ryan Nielsen. Kevin O’Connell interviewed Sean Dasai for the role last year before settling on Donatell.
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