Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 8.28.24

Sports That Aren't HockeyTwinsLynxVikings

Aug 28

Written By Ryan Stanzel

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Gopher football opens up Thursday against North Carolina on Fox.

Lynx at Phoenix tonight looking for seventh straight win.

Twins’ Horror of a Homestand Continues

Entering play yesterday, the Twins had a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs, and the way things are going you have to wonder when/if they’ll have that high of a chance again.

The Twins fell to 1-4 on this nine-game homestand, rallying from a four-run deficit to force extra inning before watching their star closer Jhoan Duran give up four runs in the 10th in an 8-6 loss to the Braves. Still, the offense almost bailed out the pitching staff, scoring twice in the 10th before Trevor Larnach struck out as the potential winning run.

The ghost runner in extra innings is still one of the worst rules in sports. I’m also not a fan of bringing in your closer to start an inning with a man on second. Duran usually starts the ninth, with no one on base. Why not use Griffin Jax, a guy who’s used to pitching in situations with runners on base?

Royce Lewis went 0-for-5 and is in one heck of a slump. He needs Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton back for some protection. Still, not a fan of batting him fifth and behind…checks notes...cleanup hitter Eddie Julien? Your best player has to get as many at bats as he can, slump be damned.

All this a night after the Twins started a game with dangerous thunderstorms nearby, and then watched No. 1 starter Bailey Ober give up eight runs before getting six outs and a lengthy rain delay.

And if all that isn’t fun enough, they face Chris Sale in the finale of the three-game set tonight, opposite David Festa. Up top, suddenly Kansas City is tied with Cleveland for the division lead, with the Twins 2.5 games back. And their lead over Boston is down to 3.5 games.

The Twins released Trevor Richards - their trade deadline acquisition - yesterday, while officially ending Joe Ryan’s season by placing him on the 60-day injured list.

Vikings Cut Cine, Nwangwu

You have to give it to Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. He’s not afraid to admit he was wrong.

The Vikings cut Adofo-Mensah’s first, first-round pick yesterday, saying goodbye to safety Lewis Cine after two years. Cine was injured in year one, and didn’t do a lot in year two. Still, it’s unusual for teams to move on from a first-round pick so soon.

Minnesota also cut Kene Nwangu, their explosive kick returner.

The Vikings did keep No. 3 QB Jaren Hall, and with the way quarterbacks go around here, taht’s a good move.

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