SB Nation Minnesota: All Posts by Scott Schroeder

White Sox enter offseason trying to keep pace with Tigers

2012-12-04T16:28:40Z

The Chicago White Sox are hoping to do a lot of things this offseason to get better, but their primary goal seems to be just trying to keep pace with the Detroit Tigers. The White Sox seem to believe that they can't only concentrate on themselves, but rather have to keep pace with the Tigers if they're going to be good next season.

That might be difficult considering the Tigers have already added Torii Hunter and will bring Victor Martinez back into the fold following his injury. Sox general manager Rick Hahn seems to believe that his team will be good so long as they're able to do just a bit better than the Tigers this offseason.

"As we look around our room and talk to our scouts and coaches and look at our clubs, we can't look at ourselves and say maybe we're an 80-82 win team," Hahn said. "We can't think in good faith that's going to capture the Tigers, given what they've accomplished in the players they've added. Fortunately, we don't look at ourselves that way. We like our team."

For what it's worth, the White Sox feel like they might have the upper hand in the pitching department with Jake Peavy returning and Chris Sale having another year of experience, but it'll take a few more pieces to catch up with Detroit.

Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau to play in World Baseball Classic

2012-12-04T16:15:24Z

The Minnesota Twins look like they will be well-represented at the 2013 World Baseball Championships as both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau have committed to play in the national games, according to a pair of tweets from Major League Baseball's PR feed.

The news might not seem like a huge deal upon first read -- the WBC has struggled to get the traction most believed it would when the competition was originally announced -- but it's certainly welcome news within the circle of Twins fans, as this means that both players will be healthy enough to play competitive baseball in March.

Twins general manager Terry Ryan gave 1500 ESPN a similar statement.

"I don't think there's any doubt that he's ready, and physically ready to take that on," general manager Terry Ryan said Monday. "Certainly he has a lot of interest in playing in the WBC. He takes a lot of pride in the Canadian baseball front."

Mauer will play for Team USA, of course, whereas Morneau will represent Canada when the WBC begins in March.

Percy Harvin could be available for Bears game

2012-12-04T15:55:35Z

The Minnesota Vikings haven't been able to muster much of a passing game since wide receiver Percy Harvin suffered a severely sprained ankle in early November, but there is hope that the former league-leader in receptions could return for this weekend's game against the Chicago Bears.

The Vikings are still considering him questionable, according to a report in the Star Tribune, but that news is at least a bit better him definitively being out for another week.

"I really don't have much new news regarding Percy," Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said Monday. "He did a little bit with our trainer today; we'll learn a little bit more as the week goes on. Hopefully, we can get him back, but there's no certainty there."

Harvin has missed the team's last three games, bringing much scrutiny upon quarterback Christian Ponder and the remainder of a bad Vikings' pass offense.

Frazier believes two other players that play a big part for the Vikings -- John Sullivan and Jared Allen -- are both likely to play this weekend despite battling injuries of their own.

Jordan Kovacs named Michigan football MVP for 2012

2012-12-04T15:25:23Z

The Michigan Wolverines had named starting quarterback Denard Robinson the team's Most Valuable Player the last two seasons, but the Bo Schembechler award went to somebody on the opposite side of the ball this season. Safety Jordan Kovacs was named the team MVP on Monday night at a team banquet.

Kovacs, a four-year starter after having to tryout twice to make the team in the first place, was voted in as team MVP by way of a players' vote. He's just the third safety in team history to earn the honor, joining Tripp Welborne and Randy Logan. Kovacs was touched:

"I'm truly, truly humbled. Just been an honor to play for this university. It was a dream come true when I first walked on, and that's how I approached it day in and day out. I've always been proud to wear the winged helmet, and just given everything I could to this university. Can't be thankful enough."

Kovacs will finish his career with Michigan's matchup against South Carolina in the Outback Bowl and, at worst, he'll finish with the 12th most tackles in school history. For what it's worth, the safety also earned the Robert P. Ufer Bequest for "most spirit" and joined Robinson as recipients of the "Captains Award."

Chicago Bulls raise ticket prices 5 percent

2012-12-04T14:48:11Z

The Chicago Bulls have been quite good over the last couple of seasons so it makes sense that tickets to get in the door at the United Center have become a bit pricier -- even without main attraction Derrick Rose on the court for at least the early portion of the season.

Bulls ticket prices went up 5.2 percent this season compared to the 2011-12 season, according to the annual Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index (via Jon Greenberg at ESPN Chicago), meaning the average ticket price is at a staunch $71.90 ... and that's without including premium and club seating.

The price increase might seem like an inordinate amount due to inflation, but the same report indicates the average ticket price-hike around the NBA was slightly less at just 3.5 percent.

According to the report, 14 teams raised ticket prices this season whereas eight teams dropped their average ticket price. The biggest increase came with the Brooklyn Nets as they transition from the Prudential Center in New Jersey to the newly-built Barclays Center.

Minnesota vs. South Dakota State: Nate Wolters not mad about local team passing on him

2012-12-04T14:30:13Z

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have looked pretty solid this thus far - their only loss came to the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils - but they face a rather difficult task against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Tuesday night. Normally that matchup wouldn't sound daunting, but the Jacks feature a Minnesotan that's becoming pretty prominent in NBA circles.

Nate Wolters, a former high school standout from St. Cloud, wasn't recruited by the Gophers out of college but has earned quite a bit of praise while playing in Brookings after leading the Summit League standouts to the NCAA tournament last year.

The 6-foot-4 guard believes that not being recruited by Minnesota isn't a bad thing, though, as he told the Argus Leader's Terry Vandrovec that it likely worked out better to get the minutes on what's perceived as a lesser team:

"I've played a lot of minutes. I don't think I would have gotten that opportunity if I went to a high-major school and sat a couple of years. I may just be playing right now. It's made me a way better player."

Minnesota is currently riding a 15-0 winning streak against the Jackrabbits and they've won their last three contests against South Dakota State by a combined margin of 64 points.

Western Michigan vs. Michigan: Wolverines looking to show they can finish

2012-12-04T14:00:26Z

The Michigan Wolverines have started the season with a very solid 7-0 record and No. 3 ranking in the nation heading into Tuesday night's game against Western Michigan, but there are still a few flaws to be found in their style so far. Most noteworthy among them is their ability to finish games.

The Wolverines have looked to be en route to numerous blowouts already this season, but the team has allowed teams to slink back late in the game to turn large deficits into competitive contests.

Considering Michigan's matchup with an in-state team Tuesday night, however, the team realizes momentum could play a bigger part if the Wolverines are unable to close out the game the way they should be able to against less-talented opponents. According to junior Tim Hardaway Jr.:

"Just trying to finish the games out the way we should. "We haven't been really focused out there. That just comes with practice and getting more reps when we're up by a lot. ... We have to do a better job of playing our hardest every possession and not giving up easy lay-ups."

Michigan's game against the Broncos will be televised on the Big Ten Network when it tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET from the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. Western Michigan's lone loss so far came at the hands of Cornell last month.

Tyler Flowers poised to start at catcher for White Sox

2012-12-04T13:36:45Z

Tyler Flowers has been a part of the Chicago White Sox organization since the team traded for him in a package that sent Javier Vazquez and Boone Logan to the Atlanta Braves following the 2008 season. Four years later - and with the possible loss of incumbent A.J. Pierzynski - it looks as though the defensive stopper is going to get his chance to start next season.

The 26-year-old made 153 plate appearances in 53 games for the White Sox last season, but was unable to impress the majority of those hoping he'd be fantastic as he posted just a .213 batting average and .296 OBP while striking out 56 times during his fourth season of playing sporadically for the White Sox' big club.

Chicago general manager Rick Hahn sees quite a bit of potential in Flowers, however, telling reporters at the MLB's winter meetings that he believes he can step right in and fill Pierzynski's role:

"I don't think we're going to lose anything defensively or ability to stick to the game plan," Hahn said. "Our pitchers like throwing to Tyler. Our coaches are comfortable with him sticking to the plan and he gets it. He's worked hard at that over the years.

"... It's a high standard we think he can live up to with what A.J.'s reputation was."

If Pierzynski leaves, it's likely that the team would forego adding a veteran to backup Flowers and instead insert Hector Gimenez as the backup backstop.