Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 7.19.24
Twins Back Tomorrow
The Twins begin the unofficial second half of the season tomorrow when they host the Brewers for the first of a quick two-game border battle series.
Eleven days remain until the July 30 trade deadline. For the first time in forever, could the Twins find a rental starting pitcher? They’re M.O. has been to get pitchers with term left on their contract, but they’re in a position to go for it here. Not give up the farm, per se, and there isn’t a ton of starting pitching on the market right now, but that could change.
Despite the balanced schedule, the Twins have seven games left against Cleveland, which leads them by 4.5 games.
Mauer Enshrined in Hall of Fame this Weekend
Saint Paul’s Joe Mauer will enter baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown this weekend.
A couple Mauer memories from my wayback machine.
The first time he showed up to an event I was at for the Wild, he had driven himself. He knows his way around, of course, but to have this mega star just pull up in his own car was amazing, especially when it’s a team event. Heck, I drove James Sheppard to the State Fair once so he wasn’t late for an interview. Just as down to Earth as you can be…
In the Wild’s recruitment of Parise and Suter, I was a secret operative in charge of getting Mauer to do a video snippet saying how great it was to play in your hometown. He wore a Mauer No. 9 green Wild jersey and did it in one take, oh about two hours before a Twins home game. Even cooler was going back after the signings, when Ron Gardenhire delivered on his own promise of a $1 bill that hung on his wall to help Parise out.
Team USA Made Wrong Call on Caitlin Clark
In a way, I understood when USA Basketball left Caitlin Clark off the Olympic team in favor of older, more seasoned athletes. The problem, of course, is that Clark is outperforming just about everyone in the WNBA, and there’s no doubt the Olympic snub played a part in her motivation.
This wasn’t Cheryl Reeve’s decision, rather the committee’s, but you have to feel she’ll take some of this blame publicly.
Reminds me of the last Winter Olympics, when USA Hockey left a college veteran named Taylor Heise off the team. A year later, she was named the top player in women’s college hockey and hasn’t stopped being a star since.
Sometimes, the kids can - and should - lead you.
Loons Face Worst Team in MLS
If the Twins don’t snap their nine-game winless streak Saturday at home against San Jose, you have to wonder when the next win will come.
San Jose has won just four of its 24 games, and is last in the MLS by a significant margin. But you’re saying there’s a chance….
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