CubFan7125
12-17-2001, 12:51 PM
Charley Walters (http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/waltech01.shtml) writes the sports gossip & info column for the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. He is very well connected and quite a few of his items come true. He is a Twin Cities native & had a cup of coffee with the 69 Twins. Here are a few items from his Sunday(Dec. 16, 2001) column (http://www.pioneerplanet.com/columnists/docs/WALTERS/docs/208674.htm) I found interesting.
- Twins President Jerry Bell doubts Major League Baseball would announce contraction of his team for 2003 to avoid what fans would perceive as a lame-duck season in 2002. "I don't think they would name the teams and then have them play another year,'' Bell said.
- Word within baseball circles Saturday was that an announcement of contraction of the Twins, eliminating the team for the 2002 season, could come this week even though that would defy a court injunction.
- There is talk of turning the Metrodome into a high school if the Twins are contracted and the Vikings and Gophers end up with a new stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. Private suites would be used as classrooms and the field for athletic events. Although the Dome is debt-free, a major obstacle would be finding at least $10 million annually to operate it.
- Baseball officials say 18-year-old catcher Joe Mauer of St. Paul would be the first position player picked, and third overall behind pitchers Eric Milton and Joe Mays, if there were a player dispersal draft of Twins because of contraction.
I personally like the Metrodome item. Finally a good use of that building(any building that is educating our youth is being put to good use).
- Twins President Jerry Bell doubts Major League Baseball would announce contraction of his team for 2003 to avoid what fans would perceive as a lame-duck season in 2002. "I don't think they would name the teams and then have them play another year,'' Bell said.
- Word within baseball circles Saturday was that an announcement of contraction of the Twins, eliminating the team for the 2002 season, could come this week even though that would defy a court injunction.
- There is talk of turning the Metrodome into a high school if the Twins are contracted and the Vikings and Gophers end up with a new stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. Private suites would be used as classrooms and the field for athletic events. Although the Dome is debt-free, a major obstacle would be finding at least $10 million annually to operate it.
- Baseball officials say 18-year-old catcher Joe Mauer of St. Paul would be the first position player picked, and third overall behind pitchers Eric Milton and Joe Mays, if there were a player dispersal draft of Twins because of contraction.
I personally like the Metrodome item. Finally a good use of that building(any building that is educating our youth is being put to good use).