Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 5-22-23.
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I’m back. Took some research to ease myself back into The Takeout game because it was a dance competition weekend in my house. Back to a Mon-Wed-Fri publishing schedule minus holidays.
Sounds Familiar: Twins Not That Good, Not That Bad
NHL Network’s Mike Rupp appropriately said the Wild was “not that good, not that bad” early in the 2022-23 season, and that same phrase appears to fit the 2023 Minnesota Twins. They’re 25-22, somewhat comfortably in first place over Detroit (3.5 games) and Cleveland (four games). I’m not into most fancy stats, but I do know the Twins have the best run differential in the woeful AL Central by some 76 runs. The Twins went 2-4 on their western road trip and increased their division lead.
I’ll be doing a deep dive this week on some changes the Twins must make immediately, and eventually, so I don’t want to give that away quite yet. But the bullpen has been awful. The offense needs to get it going - especially with the bases loaded - and three good starters can’t carry them the entire season. My concern is, like last year, management will wait too long to make any moves to improve this team and let Cleveland catch them.
Royce Lewis is of course the big move, but they can’t activate him off the injured list until May 29. Lewis, coming off his second ACL tear, is smacking around AAA pitchers in a rehab assignment.
The return of The Takeout may coincide with the fact that West Coast swing was over…It’s a beautiful week here in the Twin Cities, with three games each against San Francisco and Toronto.
Florida, Vegas Two Wins Away from Cup Final
Not that any ratings among the NHL’s final four will get Gary Bettman’s heart racing, but Florida and Vegas? You’d have had a hard time predicting that six weeks ago.
Both teams hold 2-0 series leads in the conference semis. Florida has an extra advantage, heading home for two games against Carolina already up 2-0 with Game 3 tonight. Game in the West is Tuesday in Dallas.
Nuggets, Heat on Collision Course for NBA Finals
The Lakers were the talk of the playoffs early on, but they’re facing a 3-0 series deficit to the best team in the Western Conference all season, the Denver Nuggets. Miami took a 3-0 series lead over Boston last night, too. The Heat needed the play-in tournament to make the playoffs after finishing eighth.
Lynx Lose Season Opener
The WNBA pre-season isn’t very long - just two games - so the tendency would be to give the Lynx a break for a three-point second quarter in a season-opening 77-66 loss to Chicago last week. Three points. Not ideal.
Diamond Miller, the second overall pick in the Draft, had nine points and seven rebounds in her pro debut. Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 17 points. Behind Collier, Kayle McBride (12 points) and Miller, some others are going to have to step up this season.
The Lynx are trying to rebound from missing the playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons.
The Lynx host the Atlanta Dream Tuesday.
Koepka Wins PGA Championship, but Club Pro Michael Block Steals the Show
LIV Tour defector Brooks Koepka won the PGA Championship, which come to find out isn’t put on by the PGA, but this past weekend was all about Michael Block. A 46-year-old club pro - yeah the guy who works at your local golf course - was in contention through three rounds. Sunday? He faltered a bit playing with Rory McIlroy, but he made a hole in one on the 15th.
Check out the celebration at his home course in California.
If this interview with Block doesn’t bring you to tears…
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