Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 8.3.26
Back from Orlando and Dublin. Watching your kid compete in the red, white and blue is one of the most rewarding moments as a parent. A fifth, ninth and 20th place in the world ain’t bad, either.
Checked out the new Mystic Lake Amphitheater for Mumford and Sons on Friday. Concert was good, but Live Nation has lost their minds. A domestic beer costs TWENTY FOUR DOLLARS, and that also affords you the opportunity to buy a “shot” of Jameson for an additional $7. “That’s $19 downstairs” the bartender who is obviously getting a bonus for upselling, explains. Beers can’t be almost as much as a lawn seat at a venue. They wonder why young people aren’t drinking, anymore…
Still no new contract for Quinn Hughes. Bill Guerin was expected to spend some time last week with the Hughes family, but then Grandma Hughes passed away.
Joey Cullen, potential first-round pick in 2028, joins his two brothers in committing to the Gophers. Doesn’t hurt that his dad, Matt, now works for the maroon and gold.
Vikings get their first practice in full pads today. The first of three pre-season games is August 15 at the Giants.
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Twins Looking to Add at Today’s Deadline; One Game Out of Wild Card
Just as we expected back in April (heck, just as we expected in late June), the Twins are buyers at this year’s trade deadline (5 p.m. central today). Minnesota is just a game back of the Wild Card, and only four back of the first-place White Sox in the Central.
Kind of a giant middle finger from the players and Derek Shelton to the Pohlads, who would just as happily have sold off even more of its roster after doing the game at last season’s deadline (this team would look good with Louie Varland right now, wouldn’t it?)
The problem, of course, is the Twins aren’t blessed with a ton of prospects who will bring a huge haul. But if there’s ever a time to go for it, it’s now, with a potential long work stoppage ahead in 2027.
The Twins actually got things going last week, acquiring a couple veteran pitchers, most notably lefty A.J. Minter. They also got righthanded starter Dean Kremer, who has gone from a workhouse to a rescue Corgi this year. He’s made only seven starts, allowing 12 homers and lasting only 36 innings.
The Twins had a chance to do some more danage in the standings in Seattle after winning Friday’s series opener, but they lost the final two games in Seattle on walk-off hits. Minnesota rallied from six runs down, including five runs in the eighth, in the 7-6 loss Sunday, which dropped the Twins back below the .500 mark.
Minnesota visits Kansas City (losers of four straight) Tuesday to begin the final two months of the season. It’ll be interesting to see what they get out of Joe Ryan, who has allowed 12 runs in 10 innings since the All-Star Game. He’ll face old friend Randy Dobnak, the one-time Uber driver who beat the Twins last week.
Lynx Run Win Streak to Ten
The Lynx have won 10 straight for the first time since 2016 after beating Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever 108-100 yesterday. Minnesota, which leads the WNBA by four games with 11 left, has scored at least 100 points in six of those 10 wins.
When you’ve got Olivia Miles, it’s hard not to score 100 points. The Rookie of the Year shoo-in scored 28 points against Indy, adding six assists and four rebounds. She’s averaging just shy of 20 points per game.
Napheesa Collier is four games into her comeback and is looking like her old self.
To no one’s surprise, the Lynx stood pat at yesterday’s trade deadline. Minnesota doesn’t play again until Thursday, when it hosts Los Angeles. The Sparks are currently out of playoff positioning.
Loons Winless in Three after World Cup Break
The Loons haven’t won since the first Saturday in May. Now, they didn’t play for more than a month due to the World Cup, but they’re winless in three games out of the break, and they haven’t won in seven games overall.
They’ve dropped to 10th - currently out of the playoff race - after a 1-1 draw with San Diego at Allianz Field Saturday.
The Loons have played three games that have counted in the MLS standings since May 23, and now the MLS schedule moves to the Leagues Cup for three games. Minnesota will go almost three months playing three meaningful games. Just unreal.
As for the Leagues Cup, the Loons host Juarez out of MX Liga Tuesday, and Tigres on Friday.
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