Wild struggling and in need of some time off

The Minnesota sports world that I love has hit a bump in the road as the Minnesota Wild are in a slump.

Thursday the Wild got shutout by the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. This is the 4^th loss in the past 5 games and to make matters worse it is the first shutout of the season. It is the 5^th game in a row the Wild gave up the first goal of the game.

The team had been 7-1 and now just can’t find the answer. The last two teams the Wild have played both had a day off between games and the Wild were not so fortunate. Is it tired leg syndrome hitting the team I love and have high hopes?

The team has not had a full practice in two weeks. I am in hopes since the team does not play until Sunday that rest and a practice can be accomplished. This team is too talented not to overcome this dip in their season.

In the pregame preview on TV Tom Chorske had said he was surprised when Backstrom got the call in a back to back road game.

You don’t see very often if at all a goalie with a 0 percent stopping of a shot. It is the second night in a row the Wilds opponent scored within the first 2 minutes of the game. Two goals in less than 3 and a half minutes and Backstrom takes a seat on the bench.

The San Jose game was disappointing so when it was time for the Kings game I really had a good feel for the team. A trade that brings Jason Pominville and the recall of Mikael Granlund I thought would bring some spark.

Disaster as the Los Angeles Kings looked so much quicker in the first period seemingly to do what they want when they wanted to.

I thought backup goalie Darcy Kuemper played well in relief giving up 1 goal in 12 shots. I believe in Backstrom, I just hope this 2 days off can give him the needed rest. The benching I would hope give him the edge to come out Sunday night assuming he is in nets and get the Wild back in the W column.

I did like the looks of the new first line with Koivu, Parise and Pominville. I can see this could be a line of excitement. This 2 days off will be key in more ways than one. The 2 day rest, along with a practice in hopes of getting these 3 some time to work together could go a long way to how the season ends.

11 games left and 6 of those are at home. This is going to be exciting down the stretch. No time to panic rather I am counting on a strong finish and into the playoffs the Wild go.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

What a start to the Twins season

The Twins season just finished the first series of the year. The Detroit Tigers and their big buck hitters were in town including Price Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Torri Hunter. These3 alone are intimidating with their powerful swings.

The home opener Twins face all world Justin Verlander and he was as advertised, tough. He finally leaves and the Twins were given plenty of opportunities against the relied corp but just could not get the job done.

I thought Twins starter Vance Worley showed me something after a rough 1^st inning and then settled down and kept the Twins in the game. The offense sputtered including rough day for rookie Aaron Hicks.  Just think his first major league start and he gets to face Verlander.

I did like the no quit in the team drawing within 3-2 and a chance to win. It was not meant to be. A loss was the end result but for baseball fans we can say baseball is back.

Take me out to the Ball game can be sung for the next 6 months and hopefully into the 7^th with playoffs in mind.

Game 2 Twins again fall behind but do not quit. Is there a better feeling knowing in the bottom of the 9^th the Twins have a chance. Twins down 2-1 in the bottom of the 9^th Eduardo Escobar stands at the plate and the pitch, Escobar connects and there it goes, deep. Two Tigers outfielders are back, but neither catch it. One run scores, here comes the next Twin and he is SAFE at home. Twins win 3-2

Relief pitching was a big strength and a key hit was achieved as the previous day the Twins just could not get the hit when needed. Tigers hitters first two games no home runs.

Rubber match at noon and Twins fall behind for the third straight day. Twins hitters once again do not quit. First 2 home runs of the year and they were not from Detroit. Minnesota gets one from Willingham and Plouffe.

Aaron Hicks starts out 0-11 in the series and then in the 8^th he gets his first major league hit. I was watching Hicks get interviewed when a large bucket of water gets dumped on his back. The base hit had to be special especially since  he was playing against his favorite player in baseball, Torri Hunter.

Positives in the series

Twins starting pitching goes 6, 7 and then 5.1 in the 3^rd starts.

Twins relief pitching was outstanding as strikeouts were being achieved. I thought the only disappointment was Brian Duensing walking 2 in the first game other than that it was lights out. Closer, Glen Perkins got the win in game 2 but also looked strong including a strikeout. I am expecting big things out of him.

No quit in the team as exhibited in all three games.

Detroit Tigers- 0 home runs in 3 games

Twins win first series against Detroit at Target Field since September2010. Twins start out 2-1 in 2013, after starting out 2012 getting swept in Baltimore.

It is a long season but starting out above 500 can only give this team a sign of hope.

I know the team will hit it was the pitching I was concerned about. It is only 3  good games of solid pitching.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

 

Wolves win streak on the road continues

The Wolves playoff shot is over but that is not stopping the team from trying to build confidence not only for the rest of this season but for seasons to come.

The Wolves won in Milwaukee on Wednesday night making it 3 straight on the road. They have won in Phoenix, Detroit and now Milwaukee.

In a 2011-2012 strike shortened season the Wolves end up 26-40 for the year. Wednesday’s night win makes 28 for the year so far.  It is so nice to see the win column growing. Monday night the Wolves beat an injury plagued Boston Celtics. It is not the Wolves fault teams are banged up so it is nice to see the team getting the W.

Coach Rick Adelman has collected wins 998 and 999 this week and with the next game on Friday at home vs Toronto will he get the monumental 1000^th win at home. He has 2 chances at home to get it done as Detroit comes to town Saturday night. I would love to see him get it at home.

The team is really playing well as we are seeing Nikolai Pekovic being dominant and getting 20 plus points the last 2 games. Ricky Rubio found his 3 point touch against Milwaukee. Rubio outside and Pekovic inside is an exciting future. The passing of Rubio just gets better to watch.

This team with the addition of maybe one more scorer and some inside help, the sky is the limit. They are young and upcoming. Teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are getting older so it is time for the Wolves to let the rest of the NBA know it is not going to be an easy win against Minnesota anymore.

GO WOLVES

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Welcome to Minnesota, Coach Pitino

It has been a frustrating time since Tubby Smith was fired on Monday March 25^th. My hope was that since that happened like most Gopher fans I thought there would be a quick replacement.

The names I have heard thrown out I would get excited and then only to find out it was a no go. Fred Hoiberg, Shaka Smart, or Flip Saunders I would have loved to have seen leading the Maroon and Gold. It was not meant to be.

I thought the next name maybe would be Marquette coach, Buzz Williams but as of Wednesday April 3^rd that was not meant to be as the U has announced Richard Pitino has agreed in principal to be the next men’s coach.

What I like is he is young with many hopefully good years along with who is dad is. Yes, Coach Rick Pitino who has Louisville Cardinals poised to win the 2013 NCAA tournament.

Young Pitino has a great resume going working on his dad’s staff and also served on Florida Gator with Coach Billy Donovan. These 2 in my mind are top 5 in the nation. Louisville and Florida are a constant in the every year tourney. What a background young Richard comes from.

My biggest hope is winning but hopefully he has learned recruiting skills. It will be interesting to see how he can compete with a Tom Izzo or Tom Crean in the Big Ten alone.

This will be an interesting talker in the coming days on people’s opinion of the hire.  There is a saying, only time will tell.

 During the games it will sound weird as they talk about Coach Pitino, and no not Louisville Coach Pitino rather Minnesota Coach Pitino.

GO GOPHERS

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

 

 

Welcome to Minnesota, Jason Pominville

The Minnesota Wild are about to play the first of 3 road games tonight in San Jose. There are 13 games left so every game becomes just that much more important as the drive for the playoffs continue.

The trade deadline was Wednesday and when I got home for work I found out about the exciting news for Wild fans.

A major trade in my eyes brings to the Wild the former captain of the Buffalo Sabres, Jason Pominville. The cost was four prospects including goalie, Matt Hackett.

Jason is the league 8 years with 6 of them being a 20 goal scorer. I am so excited and thankful for the organization trying to help break the four year playoff drought.

I love the play of rookie Charlie Coyle on the first line but to see Parise, Koivu and Pominville on the ice together would be awesome. It is incredible having 3 either a current or former captain of a team.

I am already excited about the possibilities of this team and now after today cannot wait to 9:30 when the Wild play in San Jose.

Thank you Wild management for giving fans more reason of hope the team will be raising the Stanley Cup in June.

In other news I was shocked to see Marian Gaborik get traded out of New York to Columbus. The Wild travel to Columbus on Sunday April 7^th, so it will be interesting to see how Gaborik does with his new team.

LETS GO WILD!!!

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

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Wild feel the Blues

Another Wild home game with a 13-3-1 record at home what can go wrong? Do you feel lately it is just a matter of time before a win? Do you find yourself turning the TV getting ready for the game on and in 2 plus hours you will be going to bed with a smile after watching another Wild win? What can go wrong?

The team is getting into bad practice of falling behind 1-0, 2-1 and lately 3-1. The way the Wild have been playing I did not feel too concerned they fell behind St. Louis 3-1.

The Wild’s first period I really thought they came out sluggish. It was concerning when Mr. Everything Mikko Koivu gets hit high with a stick and no call. What if there would have been a 4 minute power play?  A guy skates right to the locker room knowing he is hurt would make me think the refs would have wanted to see just what happened.

It could have been a game changer but not to be. The other game changer occured when a St. Louis goalie, Jaroslav Havlak goes down to injury with 9 seconds left in the period. A new goalie enters the game and this is where I thought the Wild should have fired away at him. The amount of power play opportunities were great to have but what I thought was too much passing and not enough shooting. It seemed like the Wild were trying to make the perfect pass.

Third Period was much more Wild like and was so enjoyable to watch the energy. The shots on goal was a much better effort although no goals.

A loss at home stinks with this big chance to keep up with the top 3. The other factor now is the team goes on a tough road trip.

It was a loss to St. Louis and I do credit the Blues for coming in and playing a whale of a game. They had a game plan and were able to carry it out.

The season is down to 13 games with 6 home and 7 on the road so it is time to forget what happened and focus on the final 13 taking a game at a time.

The team is so talented one bump in the road will be overcome by this team we love, the Minnesota Wild.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

Weather and Twins start out cold

great because of the unknown. A team that is favored in any sport and then the star of the team goes down injured only to see the team fall back.

Twins home opener is finally here on the 2^nd coldest day in Twins home opener history. It was so good to hear Bert Blyleven and Dick Bremers’ voice on the TV again. The circle me Bert signs were out in force. The powerful Tigers are the opponent and to make matters worse the Twins face maybe baseball’s best pitcher in Justin Verlander.

Is there a better feeling as a baseball fan to say the home opener is finally here and the season is under way?

Q. How would rookie Aaron Hicks look when at bat against Verlander?

A. Twins rookie center fielder Aaron Hicks did not look well at all against Verlander.

 The way the first few innings went for Twins batters I was hoping we would not see a no hitter on Opening Day against the Twins.

Twins got a break when Verlander left the game. The disappointment comes in leaving 12 men on base including bases loaded and only one out only to watch out 2 and 3 come in form of a strikeout by Twins batters. An early domination by Verlander turned into hopes of a win with the struggling Tigers relief pitcher, Drew Smyly. The Twins had so many chances to make Smyly become not so Smyly.

A 4-2 loss sure there are negatives to talk about but I want to look at what I like today. Twins starter Vance Worley had a tough first couple innings but I really like the way he competed until he was eventually pulled. It was nice to see him not panic and settle down getting ground balls.

I was very impressed with 2 of the relievers with Casey Fien picking up 3 strikeouts in 1 inning of work and Josh Roenicke picking up a strikeout. The two combined for 2 1/3 innings with no hits allowed.

Tiger’s slugger Miguel Cabrera who won the Triple Crown in 2012 was shut down and ended 0-4. This has to be a positive for the pitching staff to shut down this monster of a hitter.

It is hard to believe the Twins had a chance to win after the way they started out the game.

How about the range that new shortstop Pedro Floriman showed? The deep ball in the hole and throwing in time to get the out at first was a nice sight to see. Yes, it was slow footed Cabrera but I still did like the effort by Florimon. The catch in short left field showed more of the range also. I know he did commit an error which is not fun to watch but I still like what he showed. His batting ending 1 for 2 is not bad way to start out either.

Mauer coming out of the gate 2-4 is a nice way to start the year. The Twins batters get 7 hits and 3 of them go for doubles.

A loss is never fun to watch but I will say it is so nice to have baseball back. The starting staff has been drastically changed since 2012, a rookie center fielder are just some of the things to watch as the 162 game season has now begun.

The Twins and Tigers go at it again Wednesday so we will see what the team learned from one game. We just need to be patient and support the team we all love, our Minnesota Twins!!!

I will do an article after each series concludes looking back at  what was positive and negative.

Thanks for reading

Purplestick

GO TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!