Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 8.23.24

Aug 23

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Join Pulltab Sports and me at the Minnesota State Fair! I’ll be doing a LIVE Make Glove not W.A.R. podcast this Saturday from 2-3 p.m. in Carousel Park across from the Grandstand. You’re all going to Nate Bargatze that night anyways.

The Vikings’ pre-season finale is Saturday in Phiadelphia. Jaren Hall will start. New roster rule means you can place third string QB on practice squad, so it’ll be interesting to see what happens there. Kevin O’Connell will join the TV broadcast on Fox 9 from the sideline in the third quarter. The Vikings signed former Gopher RB Mo Ibrahim. Ibrahim seemed on the way to a solid career when he blew out his knee in the season-opener against Ohio State three years ago. He was on the Lions last year but was hurt twice, the second time on his only play - returning a kick. It would be a long way back for Ibrahim if he saw game action.

Twins’ Begin Nine-Game Homestand Two Behind Cleveland

A Guardians’ loss yesterday means the Twins open up their nine-game homestand tonight against St. Louis just two games back of first-place Cleveland. Kansas City is also two games back.

It’s remarkable the Twins are where they are, without Royce Lewis and Carlos Correa for large chunks of the season, with Byron Buxton out now, with Joe Ryan Hurt and Pablo Lopez more like a No. 4 pitcher than a top line starter this season.

The Cardinals are two games under the .500 mark.

I’m particularly interested in Saturday’s matchup, with Lopez toeing the rubber opposite old friend Sonny Gray.

Lynx Win Streak Hits Four; Caitlin Clark in Town Saturday

The Lynx winning streak is up to four games after Wednesday’s 98-87 win in Las Vegas. MVP candidate Napheesa Collier scored 23 points, while point guard Courtney Williams had 22 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

Minnesota hosts Las Vegas tonight before a match-up with Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Saturday at Target Center.

The Lynx is in third overall and first in the West, but WNBA playoff seedings go by overall standings. They’re four games back of New York, which has won seven straight.

Loons Need Points to Begin Final Third of Season

The Loons begin MLS play again after the month-long Leagues Cup when they host Seattle on Saturday. Minnesota’s all-time record against the Sounders is an atrocity.

For all their faults, Minnesota begins the homestretch in ninth place in the West. That would mean a play-in game for the post-season.

I’ll tap my friend Dan Wade of “Heath Out” dot com - love that name and it worked - for a quick look at the Loons.

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