High on JG Preston in this is sportfolio. Have you ever stood up in a baseball game and yelled kill the UMP or even thought it was shame on you if you have my gas today is Tim cheetah Saint Paul native. We just happens to be an American League umpire if nothing else this afternoon. I think we can establish that umpires are pretty nice guys. They will tell us how to get started in officiating not just baseball bat any sport. Maybe if we're lucky we can get Tim to tell us what really goes on with a manager comes out to argue a call and get his thoughts on such issues as Scuf balls in the strike zone. You have a question for Tim cheetah. Give us a call at 227-6000 to 276 thousand here on sportfolio.No, I said all that under the assumption that kimchi to actually will be here agreed to join us this afternoon on Tim's not here yet. Tim's an Umpire umpires are very honest people. They have very good memories. So I know Tim hasn't forgotten and I know he'll be here but it could be the Beast snow flurries outside which are heavier in some places than others may have slowed him up somewhat. Maybe I haven't forbid maybe Tim involved in a horrible fender bender Somewhere Over by Snelling Avenue and is just held up in transit. So after the great big deal. We're not going to talk to Tim tschida at least right now, but he's not at his house. So I expect he's on the way and when he gets here, we'll talk to in the meantime. We have a choice either I can sit here and talk and talk and talk and that'll get old pretty her it pretty quick. Or you can give me a phone call and you can talk and talk and talk and when that gets a little cut you off. I think that's the preferable way to go. Anyway, the lines are open at 2276 Thousand Oaks 2276 thousand our phone number here on sport folio later ifGood our Christmas tree will be Tim cheetah. But for the meantime, I will entertain any questions that come up on the floor. I want to do it. That way. I can at least kill a little time here by telling you what's going on in sports least as far as Minnesota seen his concern this afternoon and tonight Gopher basketball team plays at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana this afternoon there two, and three on the season. I was at Williams arena for that game on Thursday night. The Gophers beat Houston man. I thought they were get clobbered in that game Houston play, Nevada Las Vegas on TV and they would they look pretty good to me. I thought they win by 15 points. Then who sang at the first eight points to the Ballgame. I thought everyone by 20 but I got to hand it to Clem Haskins and the Gophers they really fought back after that. They had not played at all. Well in their last game before finals break against Colorado State and they came back Thursday night to cut down on the mistakes. They played very aggressive defensively and they put some points on the board the second half and the final score was 6560 in favor of the Gophers and a nice job done by, Minnesota.Melvin Newbern sophomore Guard from Toledo who's in his first season with the Gophers who was academically ineligible last year Melvin did a job for 24 points put in a three-point shot. He can drive you can. He's Avril sophomore. He's quite a polished off into ball players going to make a big difference. There's a guy that Gophers can turn to when the chips are down this year and also Tim Hanson with a very impressive performance outside shooting Chanhassen the guy that you know, Jim Bickel here at the Minnesota Public Radio 12-pack watching a football game. Anyway, Hansen can shoot boys and get three 3-pointers in the second half that really helped during that game around on Thursday night the Gophers Red Ball State this afternoon in their final pre-Christmas game will be on Tuesday night against Marquette at Williams. Arena gopher. Women's Basketball team is an action this weekend at Williams Arena. They've got a couple of games tonight. They'll play Missouri tomorrow afternoon at to apply Kansas as a go for women under the roof fields are too and toThe roof field by the way, Will Be Our Guest next Saturday on the portfolio. She's a very interesting woman and I think you'll enjoy meeting her. That's assuming she shows up, but I have no reason to doubt that he will the Jackson talk to somebody over there soon Seuss who claims to Okay, Sue Sue says that mrs. Cheetah is going to find little Timmy for us. I hope nothing's wrong with Tim Tim is going to guess when this program couple of times in the past and is always very eager to come here and is always early in and the I just let's let all think good thoughts about Kim cheetah. Anyway, what else is going on in Our Stars play tonight is if anybody cares whether play lately, I don't think anybody should hear they lost their fourth straight last night in Detroit 8 to 3. I guess I answered in the second period was kind of humorous Jeff Walker in master control. I guess we thought you didn't I guess it was tied 3-3 in a second. And there's a little Rumble very minor Rumble by hockey standards on the ice there weren't even any punches thrown and then I guess see her Brooks started calling me names and Jacques was Furious and started like trying to climb over the glass between the benches and go go after her herb, and they had to be restrained by their players. I'm told that her call Jacque to mirrors a milk truck driver too horrible epithet. Add the reference actually when Jack was a struggling Junior Hockey Coach used to actually support his family by driving a Coca-Cola truck and I thought I want me to talk to the manager was that he didn't drive a milk truck. He drove a Coke truck. Anyway, that provides some comic relief, but the northstars wound up getting wiped out 8 to 3 last night. They play the New Jersey Devils tonight at the Met Center reunions of the Bratton Brothers kneel for the North Stars are in for the devil's as the Stars try to break that 4 game losing streak the Gopher hockey teams in action again tonight as well at Mariucci Arena with the other braaten Paul Broten in the lineup for the Gophers play Michigan Tech last night the Gophers struck early and often scored four goals in the first 8 minutes went on to be checked by a score of 822 Gophers are 16 and 3 on the season. They're ranked number one in the country and they leave the WCHA. What else is going on that? I should mention? Sure, why not? I just answer a question with a studio. There are not going to bother you with the details, but I just thought I'd ask her a question Wade Wilson starting quarterback for the Vikings tomorrow. That's right. Is it the Vikings quarterback situation could possibly be considered news? Cuz I think Jeff Walker's right. Everyone is bored stiff with it. But Burns woke up and made the one guy that can actually play the game as quarterback and God knows he won't finish the game cuz last 6 weeks both those clowns of played Wilson and Kramer, but at least we listen to raise arm above his head. So I suppose you got a better chance of getting the job done Vikings play at Detroit tomorrow afternoon. Wilson will be the quarterback Keith Millard. I'll be back in the lineup at defensive tackle. He's mostly recovered from his torn calf muscle, he won't be 100% but he wants to play Vikings are favored by 5 1/2 points one time a couple of weeks ago. They had a lock on a playoff berth. It looks like they lost two games since then, they still could punch things tomorrow if the Vikings win tomorrow and St. Louis losses at Tampa Bay. The bikes are in the playoffs no matter what happens the last week of the Season affect the Vikings could fit. Simply lose both their last two games and still make the playoffs. But the only way the Vikes can guarantee they'll be in the playoffs no matter what anybody else does is by winning both their last two games tomorrow at the Silverdome in the next Saturday 1 week from today against the Washington Redskins at the Metrodome. I could do a group a little bit here. I know I don't know what the high school league stuff. That's that's public policy. So I don't get in the public policy. I only get into the winners and losers and personalities and scores and stuff. Anyway, you're looking this portfolio here on ksjn 1330. MJG Preston American League. Umpire Tim. Cheetah is our schedule guess this afternoon. We still hope Tim will be here at those are good with long memories may remember this portfolio. We had the year-and-a-half ago with Jim Peterson have Jim Peterson never showed up was like listening to root canal for an hour just painful watching me struggle my way through it, but some friends of mine came through and actually called in and out of sympathy if you're feeling particularly sympathetic or actually have something you want to talk about on the radio about sports right now. Give me a call at 227-6000 to 276 thousand is our phone number on sportfolio. I'll be very happy to talk to you about anything your heart desires because we can review this is starting to want to we can have to get through the meantime. Lovely day outside. I sure liked seeing the snow come down. I hope it's knowing where you are. We just have some big fluffy benevolent flakes here in downtown Saint Paul. It's a nice day though. It's nice day to do your Christmas shopping to finish it up. I have two more packages to mail and then all the out-of-town stuff is done and I do give all the credit to my wife Joanne Troy who did all the work to make our Christmas stuff possible. And now I just have to worry about buying stuff at the people at home rather than tell you about my Christmas list and who's been naughty or nice at our house. So I will do something a little different than somebody call out of any rate. I'm told it's okay. Let's get let's take this caller first. Let's see what this caller wants to do in and then we'll put our mystery friend on the line. It's Bob a bob. that you Bob there's Bob. Hey, Bob. What happened to Bob? Is better margin Saturday Night Live in it. It's just funny watching this listen to this program. Anyway to 276 thousand Barber you there? contract situation with what's the twins twins? That's a good idea. I can as matter fact, here's where we are today Tim laudner yesterday agreed to go to salary arbitration. That means he's considered a signed player and he will be back with the twins for 1988 what'll happen now is if nothing else they'll have an arbitration hearing and an arbitrator will determine Lautner's salary for a one-year contract for next season Lauderdale make a proposal two twins make a proposal and the arbitrator will pick one of the other what could happen is before an actual hearing is held sometime after the first of the year that law during the twins will get together and negotiate a contract but if nothing else to go to arbitration lawyers back or free agents who What happened to berenguer do they accept the arbitration offer, but the twins have to sign them before January 8th, or else they cannot sign them before May 1st. So they're basically dealing with the with the two and a half weeks time. During which they have to sign those guys to keep them 488. Otherwise, they can certainly look elsewhere for right now. It is certainly will sign it sometime after the first of the year berenguer they'll probably sign but there's still some negotiating to do there. Now that the other development yesterday. Was it five guys. We're not offered contract for next year. They are Don Baylor Mike Smithson Sal Butera Dan schatzeder and Steve Carlton, the twins would like to have most if not all of those guys back Baylor is probably the shakiest of the lot not offering him a contract makes them a free agent these players Canal sign with any team in baseball and no compensation will be required snot like somebody's free. Is where the team that signs a guy has to give up a draft pick to the team that lost him these guys could sign with any other team no strings attached what not offering him a contract as a chief for the twins is the twins now consigned them for next season for any figure that they can negotiate Baseball rule is that you cannot cut a player salary more than 20% in a year and if the twins had actually offered them a contract they would have had to have offered these players at least 80% of what they made last year and in the case of each of these players that wins. The 80% was too much Don Baylor made $750,000 last year 80% of 600 Grand any be a part-time player at most of the twins Smithson made more than half a million last year and was terrible and certainly is not worth bringing back for 400000. So now these guys can either sign with the twins for a lower amount or they can try to take their services elsewhere. Cater for the twins, you know, I don't know if if de-icing mean they more than the TV anchor at least a half serious manner over the years. I'm not sure that the Dave necessarily would want to make the commitment to doing a full schedule and frankly. I'm not sure if but the broadcaster's involve at least the channel 9 would be interested in letting a loose cannon like Dave Moore on the deck. I don't know the TV rights after the season to season coming up and that might wind up being part of their plans is for Dave to do that. I think right now Dave is too valuable to them as a 6 news anchor in terms of the ratings. He generates in the money that means for the route for the TV station. I think he's too valuable to free him up and end and frankly, I think being a color commentator be taking a cut in pay if that works full-time job, but maybe Get some back. Yeah, you might see Dave involved somehow. I think it would be a lot of fun. We have a mystery guest on the line mystery guests sign in please. Yes. Yeah Howard's pickups. Yeah. You got a question buddy. We called you. I'm sorry. Nice the mystery voice over here. Is it at of Howard Singer who once covered the Minnesota Twins and Major League Baseball for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. And if you were at a close personal friend of mine, I wouldn't be calling him up in this situation. But since our scheduled guests American League umpire Tim cheetah is not here. We just called Howard just have somebody to BS with four part of the our he's fulfilled his obligation there for the winter, but I'm glad you are here because your opinions are off and radically different from mine. Okay, and just because yours are wrong and mine are right doesn't make your opinions any less valid how many people are still interested in what you have to say, but you know what how we got to set up technically Folks at can we have Howard on the line while these other people are okay. Now people who called for no other reason than to talk on this program Howard. So I'm going to put some of the people in the air if they have questions that you can handle. I'll let you handle him. I don't know what they're It's okay. Okay. So here we go. Go go to St. Louis Park. Hi Mike. How are you? My friend Mike? Invisible public example the athletes professional athletes perform better. If they spent less time if using chemicals like Alcohol and Other Drugs what is management going to realize that they have a very high cost investment in their physical abilities at risk every time these fellows are out drinking and being caught with CW want the essay question. Thank topic good one for this program it a good one to have Howard Sinker available for because Howard covered the twins. He was around Major League Baseball every day for four of the best years of his life Howard knows a lot about them. I'm not go see about the chemical abuse at least you've been around athletes Howard, you know, the kind of things that happened. You read the question what you want you coming on that young man in their mid and late twenties 24 hours a day. It's just not realistic these people have been able to do pretty much whatever they want whenever they want to do it and if they're going to go out and have a date beers by God they're going to do it doesn't this does this impact their athletic performance to the point where they become ineffective or is it Dwight Gooden was using cocaine once in a while still Head and Shoulders above anybody else talk either certainly an effective performance. You can't tell me that a certain baseball players going to be at the top of his game 162 times a year as what schedule demands when he's been sitting in a hotel bar or a race of your bar. Until three 3 a.m. And Ike before and you're a fool if you think those things don't happen. Is it easy for baseball management either the field manager or people in the front office? Can they tell just from watching a guy play the maybe he's got a chemical problem with some sort of problem. When an occasional basis, I'm timing, you know, two or three times a year. I mean, it's not like guys show up every Sunday with a hangover. But just over the course of a long season these things are going to happen and you accept it as part of the package. I think it's as much as we hold athletes up to be Role Models. It's just like they in this regard. I think they're like part of the workforce. I mean there were days when we all come to work at about 85% for one reason or another. What not know what about the the image consideration Francis now the the Vikings as an institution suffer because of the arrest that have happened to some of the players that's not to bring any of the players as luscious or it's going to be with us or anything but people and ends early the media amplifies. It's the people get a perception over. Of time and they see a dark cloud around the Vikings now on your roster having two DWIs. I don't think the media is amplifying it's and downplayed the problem and in the poopoo the problem by saying. Oh wow. Yes. We all are we've all been driving while impaired once in a while and I find that kind of attitude really offencive if it's an if it's one or two cases, what's the twins with Steve Howe? 2 years ago about that. They gave the guy another chance. He'd been a three-time Coke loser. They gave him one more chance in the end. He felt that wasn't a reflection of a twins as an organization. It was the little bit of a reflection of their naivete when they were going around saying sure Steve how can drink beer but you know, as long as we keep away from Coke will be okay, but I think with the Vikings you have a large-scale rampant problem of some sort and I don't buy the that they're being watched more closely because they all lived near the 494 strip. Something is dreadfully wrong in that organization there. There has to be some kind of There has to be steps that can be taken. I have a feeling I'll call her at least was thinking if you didn't actually mean to say this may be the guy you still there, Tell me why don't you just come down here and they wasn't next to pick up for DWI. You're out of here. You're gone. We have to stop this email thousands of dollars per game to give up some of those thousands of dollars every time they're not meeting their contract by being a physical condition for the game and maybe some of our judges want to put some of these people in jail during the season and maybe that will get the message through that. Yes, if you drink and drive in our streets and endanger our citizens, maybe you won't make your fancy playoff games. Maybe you'll be in jail during that time. Maybe the issue will definitely come to a head cold. Of course I am no expert on is for the other consideration is hot out of the general public how many DWI convictions even wind up bleeding to to any kind of jail sentence? Lot more of that but you're coming before about the general population being impaired coming to work Cedric. I personally don't ever drive well and paired. I don't drink that. That's another situation altogether, but I control my activities if I know I'm going to drive I take the responsibility for being in condition. These people can't afford to hire a cat to take themselves home. They can't afford to let me let me clarify my comments about being impaired I'm saying, you know what I'm talking about an assortment of circumstances, you know, you stay you stay up till 3 in the morning for whatever reason and when the alarm goes off at 7 in the last thing you want to do is put on the three piece suit and go to work abilities and this is just one of them and it's going to happen. And yeah, I think there's a difference between as you say making sure that that somebody else is driving the car and getting behind the wheel your Self endangering have to Suburban population in a randomly and viciously Cramer's V Sunday at the workhouse instead of on the side light and the other question is should we consciously as a matter of policy at people who are prominent in public life athletes or whatever and use them as examples of that but I understand that the argument behind it examples of direct judicial history. Why not do it to an athlete once because their athletes are scared of nothing because there's always someone to bail them out. Maybe that's just the way it is. We've had this discussion before people fall all over each other to do things for professional athletes. If you've ever been around them, you know that and it would be nice and let you know throw one of these guys in jail. Jamaica miss the big game with the Lions. Anyone speaking bad about about this bucolic. I think they should put these people games and maybe it's a risk factor of missing the big game might discourage them from the behavior. They have to be responsible for the behavior with athletes named Kramer or anybody else. I ought to my employer to show up on the job capable of doing doing my job. Therefore. I don't stay out till 3 a.m. Before going to work. I don't get hungover before going to work. If I'm going to do stay out late. I do it on a night that I don't have to go to work and all these people having to work on weekends. We'll leave it at that and we'll see what happens from there cuz I think I got another call or standing by but thanks for the call Mike. I appreciate it. I don't know. Well, I've been wrong before to 276 thousand is our phone number and I guess we do have some lines for your auntie portfolio. MJG Preston. We're we're enjoying each other's company which we weren't supposed to do today when we supposed to enjoy each other's company, but we were also supposed to enjoy the company of Kim cheetah the American League umpire to make his home here in St. Paul. Unfortunately for whatever reason Tim is not with us. I'm sure it's nothing malicious last minute Christmas shopping is organized. I mean not not to imply that this is second fiddle to Tim cheat in any respect except singer no longer a sports writer, but Howard sink or the Minneapolis Star Tribune is with us on an informal basis Howard once covered the twins for the Star Tribune. Stop coming the twins before the World Series and was able to watch much of the baseball action to the postseason as an interested bystander, although he was paid to go to the world. Grease Monkey Howard is it was the official scores speaking to you yet. If we were to get her. We may have Howard discuss the business of official scoring as great as you made from sound a couple of minutes ago. I personally am not introducing Smithson. Come back. How much did you think twins management is probably about as interested as soon as many people are in sync Jesse Jackson become president until he was 29 and you know very well who put in a good year. And we were discussing the idea that they you're just given us the picture is given a certain number of innings in which you can be affected after that. They just lose it Steve Carlton got lucky 4000xg John Butcher and Mike Smithson weren't so lucky. They got about six hundred good ones. And there's really just nothing you can do in most cases. I personally don't see Baylor coming back cuz I think Baylor will play with the team. That'll give him those playing time. And I don't think that'll be the twins is not the player. He was even two or three years ago. And I think he yelled the question is is he going to be willing to accept the being of a platoon player? I don't think Don Baylor can go anywhere anymore and be a full-time right-handed designated hitter now because there are right-handed pitchers were just going to eat him up, correct? I think in a situation like the twins he would be assured of 300 350th bats. And yeah good environment to get in and something of a leadership role. I would say that the team like California which would be a logical candidate because I said jean-marc. Thanks. Don. Baylor's is a wonderful example. They're there already full of of old designated hitter types. There aren't really that many places for Don Baylor to go so he may be back after all you I think there's a better chance of him being back than some of the other guys. I'm kind of surprised that Tim laudner accepted salary arbitration be honest with you because there's so much mediocre catching in baseball. The one I thought some team would have a passing interest in him and to his statistics are not going to look good in an arbitration situation. Can I get some key home runs and had a lot of RBI, but hit 191 last situation is around baseball. Somebody who needs a catcher was going to offer him more money than he could get through salary arbitration negotiate something before it actually goes to arbitration think the twin see him as somebody who they might be able to play hardball with you certainly not Expendable. That's for sure. He may not be the greatest but they haven't got anybody better right now is a sign Dwight Lowery food been in the Detroit organization and if they're going to carry three catchers and three Pretty much mediocre catchers. I think they like one of them the bat left-handed which is what Larry does and even if they carry to I think they would be loved their Lowry with time the NOAA Portland waiting for somebody to get hurt Carlton and shots later is certainly welcome back. But only if they play for a lot less than they have any testimony of the fact that if you are left-handed and have a pulse you can get a chance to play Major League Baseball. Listen to ksjn 1330 Minneapolis-Saint Paul program is portfolio. MJG Preston, we're doing an hour-long broken play today. He's a little football terminology here in the absence of kimchi. They want to live in promoting shamelessly all week and get involved in turning into this program and The Unexplained absence. Mr. Cheetah. We have Howard Singer the Minneapolis Star Tribune former baseball writer currently on the city right now. Do some freelance work. You're still a card-carrying member the bbwaa profile things that you might never have known before Shameless. Absolutely Shameless self-promotion. We will talk to you on the telephone at 2276 thousand standing by patiently in Minneapolis is Dieter. Hello Dieter Wastin wasn't a few years ago that and Willie Wilson invite a blue actually did do six months in jail for attempting to possess. Yeah, that's true. There was a quiet they were in the federal pen in there was quite a hue and cry at the time. I guess. It must have been 82 quite a hue and cry that they were treated much more harshly than your average person in that situation because of their status as prominent athletes remember much about that how it was kind of interesting because some of the things that the other charges in their case were minimal compared to some of the admissions of actual substance abuse that that others are faced every Willie Mays Aikens weather has been blackballed from from the majors. As a result of hit you spent I believe a year in jail the last time we tried to play ball after he got out of prison. He went down to Mexico and hit over 400 Willie Norwood it for I would at least get a look from someone. But yeah it but you know, that's one example where it where athletes so we're set of athletes where were you know, he'll that were used it as Role Models question is did it help by it stop when I answer. I mean, you know, you don't know how many people's lives. They might have affected clearly clearly. They're still athletes with problems involved in Yahoo of received treatment for chemical dependency. It seems like this is that it's it's has been decreased what happens if one of the Vikings somewhere along the line was made an example of I'd be curious to see Jamie not that you should use a professional athlete has a laboratory rat but if anything happens because the real problem here isn't necessarily chemicals per say it's just an amazing lack of discipline throughout the entire organization at least a trickle down to the players. Go see the people in the front office live in chaos, but maybe the players feel like they can get away with stuff because Burns in particular they going to put the hammer down on and I am then maybe were talking about more than just off to your lifestyle and behavior. Maybe this is some of the reason why they scored 10 points against the mighty Packers That's that's really beyond my limited scope of knowledge and experience on that. Were you going to come in about that? Cuz I want to know about the programs coming up here on ksjn 1330 Emily back to the bat. The breeze is Howard Synchro the Star Tribune and get you involved in the conversation. If you wish strictly voluntary participation 227 6000 phone number to call Iran portfolio in the words of an old oriental. The average first man takes the drink then the drink takes the man starting Monday ksjn 1330 takes a look at drinking and its effects of a special 12 part series thinking about drinking too many of each night at 7:30 for this wide-ranging look at the public health problem that claims 100,000 live each year in the United States thinking about drinking starting Monday at 7:30 on ksjn Minneapolis-Saint Paul. Hello. This is my case did reminding you the week in review comes up just after the news at 1 here on ksjn this week. We'll examine the Fallout from the historic elections in South Korea will report cards reentry into the race for the Democratic nomination for president and look at the guilty verdict this week in the perjury case against former White House aide Michael Deaver and also this week that special feature report on the federal penitentiary in Marion, Illinois. It is the most secure and some say the most inhumane prison in America those stories and more on the weekend review coming up just after the news at 1 this afternoon. 22 minutes before 1 on this cloudy snowy Saturday afternoon before Christmas. I'm Jade you Preston here on sportfolio on ksjn 1332 TuneIn late to try to catch some Bon mots from Mr. Timn cheetah the American League umpire who was scheduled to Be Our Guest today. I'm sorry, you might as well to know what I have Auto talk now or something like that because a Tim's not here. However, I'm more than willing to work in whatever subject you would like to bring up Howard safer than Minneapolis Star Tribune is with us in our phone lines are open at 227 6000k Shakira's by the way. I think there are people who are shy about calling radio programs because they're worried that the other won't get through. It just be useless. There are many radio programs. This is among them. When if you call someone politely answers the phone on the first ring and they put you on there in about 60 seconds. So don't feel put off. This is truly public radio 2276 thousand of our phone number say Howard our associate producers who went and got a question for you. And since her microphone doesn't work. I'm going to ask you in your four years of covering the twins for the Tribune was there something that you wanted to say one of the right one of the communicate with the greater public but you couldn't because of your status as a full-time baseball writer because it would make it uncomfortable for you at the organization of the players or something that you couldn't say then that you really want to say now, but you haven't had a platform for until now. Oh not really bit nastier than I intended to but I wrote pretty much whatever I wanted whenever I wanted to I didn't feel like I was constrained by anybody and when I was done writing that there was nothing more to say All right, when I was covering baseball, I never lived breathed in 8 baseball. I mean I wasn't a 24-hour day baseball guy has crossed out in the copy. That's just in the commercials. You're a living on the edger year. Forget it. I got four calls here. So it's funny. You can't hear the radio and there's a big blank pages February Edition on non your newsstand soon. I really enjoy the fact that somebody read it. Thanks for calling to 276 thousand. Our phone number people standing by here on portfolio Eden Prairie the next up we get kind of Lucky every once in awhile I missed for a while, but I just wanted to ask you and Howard how you felt about the trades that happened at the winter meetings, especially as it affects the twins mostly in Respect to what Oakland is done and how that how that's going to affect the twins next year and just in general what you think the twins chances are for next year of Dave Parker old fat slob know my opinions first because it's my program. I thought I wasn't convinced the ASA done a lot to improve themselves until they got Bob Welch Bob Welch still a super pitcher and he's going to do very very well for them Parker. I really don't think Parker going to help him. I think between the fact that he's just about through anyway, once it gets into that Cavern is Ballpark and believe me Mark McGwire donatus 49 home runs in Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. I don't think Parker is going to help him. I assume I don't think a whole lot of Alfredo Griffin, but at least he isn't Major League shortstop and they gave him up in the trade to get Welch. I assume I wear with it. They have somebody that they're at least as comfortable with the back him up. So I'm not sure that's going to be a major loss for them. I still see the ages as a team that's got some exciting Personnel, but Their pitching depth should be better now. I guess you have to look at him as a contender, but I still for whatever blind prejudicial reason cannot get excited about. I I can't get real excited about the Royals either. Although Kurt Stillwell is apparently a pretty good shortstop. The guy that got from the Reds. They gave up Danny Jackson to get him. They got Floyd Banos Floyd Bannister from the from the White Sox and other left-handed starter. I don't think Bannister will necessarily do as well as Jackson had had done and she had a good year last year, but don't think he's ever had two good years back-to-back. I don't interrupt you for a second day has been a great young pitching prospects Jackson's that he's not my preseason Scion the Wardrobe, but, I'm not I'm not sure that the Royals are picking up anything. That is a follow-up also jgm. All the answers probably fairly well-known. Is that what did the Twins need to get for next year to improve themselves. Besides pitching season the rest of the vision to solid starting pitchers right now. They've got Bert Blyleven Frank Viola and an indoor Stadium where they're not going to get rain out. So they need to their Guy Fisher you that sounds like something Sid Hartman would say yeah, I sure you guys are going to bring a lots and lots and lots of pictures in a few more free agent types Kind of Love the One berenguer mold. I got you don't get offered contracts by other teams. I'm sure within the next ten days to two weeks will be a couple of signings. And they're just going to bring in veteran after veteran and hope that they get a few who work out. I have a very hard time seeing anybody in the American League West winning 90 games again next season of last year and I'd be very I'd be very surprised if it took more than 87 or 88 to win. It. Next year is a mediocre division or it's just a parody type division are two excellent teams in baseball right now in the American League are the Blue Jays in the Tigers and the Brewers if they keep improving which I'm not sure they will might move up to challenge them but basically so you have a case of the two Superior teams are going to be banging heads with each other and want you know, one of them is Do you have one of them isn't even going to make it as far as as the division playoffs like dick? I'm not sure why cuz I never have liked them before is the White Sox, but I'll know more about that as I get close to the spring training, but I got to work Salas might have been the Turning Point. Couldn't hurt to let Stef Datsun listen dick. Thanks for the call Will Baptist around somewhere. I'm sure before it's over, but I do have some more people standing by 14 minutes before we got here on ksjn 1330 MJG Preston also with this is Howard Sinker the Minneapolis Star Tribune University of Minnesota correspondent used to be a baseball writer back when he was Footloose and fancy-free call her and Minneapolis Eva. Hi. Thanks for calling. I want to get back to the use of dangerous substances and a my pet peeves is chewing tobacco and spitting and I wonder what kind of an image they leave within people who watch them besides which is extremely dangerous. Then tobacco chewing in The Dugout and on the field just as they ban cigarette smoking. I mean, I don't think it's I don't see a difference between them as far as that's concerned. My worry is that I see high-schoolers imitating their ice and that is the worried Yeah, I agree with you. If I don't I don't think it's something that that you know, there may be individual Choice here. But I I think that Sports organizations Sports somebody called leagues or whatever. I think we should just come down and say listen not in public you do it on your own time. Maybe that's one thing, you know, cuz you won't be playing by the time you get mouth cancer anyway, so what's the difference but I don't I don't I don't think it should be done in public Plainfield. Difference because it means they're like, we're sure that there are some if only half-hearted there are some attempted education with this but if for no other reason than the public perception, yeah, I think it ought to be gone. Thanks for the call about appreciate it. Jay-Z Preston here on sportfolio on ksjn 1330 and we have another color in Minneapolis Walter. Thanks for joining us to go ahead first of all. very unpleasant person input from attacking has words with second place of these Vikings won the NFL and drunk tank. Why doesn't take Sunday off in the water? Yeah, I think I think I didn't disappoint the key word there. As far as the Vikings are concerned has gotten together water Elizabeth $300,000. So I guess that makes a difference to that becomes a legal issue. That's out of my bailiwick water have a comment about something because it's before the courts or something to get my butt suit water. I'll be honest with you. I don't have a lot of money. That's frankly what it comes down to. 2276 thousand is our phone number here on sportfolio. Ksjn 1330 on the gutless JG Preston with opinions on nothing that really matter cuz he's not that guy. He's a he's with us former baseball writer from Minneapolis Star Tribune. And yes still a card-carrying member of the baseball writers association of America minute to say you're responsible things and know what that fine line of decency until the end of the our comment about the things like a hard-drinking and indecent exposure while we talk about the Baseball Hall of Fame. You don't get to vote in the Hall of Fame in 10 years. Ivory I'm halfway on that Journey. Okay and stay as long as you expect to be able to cast my ballot for Roy Smalley. One of these is a Tibetan students out all the coop. I don't think so. The reason for this comes from a conversation. I had with a New York baseball writer several years ago. Who said he voted for Harmon Killebrew? Because he remembered watching baseball in the the mere sight of Harmon Killebrew coming to the plate scared the bejeebers out of him as a Yankees fan. He said the Tony Oliva as good a player as he was did not Inspire that same kind of dread that's a lot to standard to apply to the Hall of Fame. There are a lot of guys another thing here Tony only had nine productive years as a player before his knee injuries really rendered him rendered him 50% 60% too many people didn't get to see Tony Oliva in his prime and in the great Tony Oliva. He didn't have the 15 or 20 great years. That's a a Pete Rose had You know and that's that's the difference. He'll be one of these guys who always falls he'll get a sizable number of votes. But but he won't make a billy Williams for example made the Hall of Fame last year. The Cubs outfielder never had the kind of seasons of Tony leave a hat and it in his prime but Billy Williams was excellent year in and year out for a long. Of time were kinda sorry. I think if Tony had those nine years back in the 1920s when it seems like half the players who played Major League Baseball are in the Hall of Fame. I think you'd be in with those nine years. No problem, but the problem is is not in your suffer because of historically when he had them. I personally I guess I I can't see Tony as a Hall of Famer myself. I think he was clearly an outstanding player and it is peak. Clearly one of the four or five best outfielders in the game and defensive player. He was not a one-dimensional player by any means until he got hurt. That's correct. 2276 thousand is our phone number here on sportfolio. It's about 7 before 1 Mark. I said as a week in review after 1. We have a few more minutes to bat the breeze have a caller on the line in Minneapolis. Is that you less that's what I thought. I didn't hear what you said about the indecent exposure maybe after I really don't know if I wanted this to be a lot of talk or Flash talk. I change the name of the program, but you know the thing I don't care about it. I care about him. I want things to work out well for him firstly whatever that means but Sparta Justice now both the both the whatever I heard about it. I know nothing about it, but the dates didn't job they said he did every Wednesday afternoon or something, but when he was home on Wednesdays because they played at home games or something, but the day just didn't shy because the 21st wasn't on Wednesday. I don't know how to do something else remember show me this correctly, but still be a member of the baseball writers association. On the past like once you're in you're in right? The difference being that might my contact with baseball now rather rather than on a daily basis will be in terms of doing freelance articles stuff that you'll have to look harder to find but I'll still be here if I were to make a clean break if I were to ever to show up at the Metrodome again, there's nothing I wouldn't stay a member of the organization as a Hobby Lobby or a that's a Bo Jackson worth I guess more as a second form of income because of covering baseball something. I think I'm writing about something. I think I'm going to enjoy more than actually covering baseball because I'll be able to set my own terms. So we all want in life it and Howard said our own agendas. I'm I'm rapidly losing my train of thought because this arduous hours drawing to a close fairly quickly here. I'm JG Preston a lesson this portfolio on ksjn 1330. Am I expecting to hear Tim cheetah? I was hoping to talk to Tim to it's always nice to rub elbows with Howard Sinker, but maybe sometime before the winter is over and they go back down to Florida. We can have Tim come over and join us for a discussion about officiating. I do have some programs coming up that I'd like to tell you about you stick on our cuz I might ask you say something or some time but we have several more portfolios set in stone. So we thought this one was to next Saturday the University of Minnesota women's basketball coach. Lularoe Fields Will Be Our Guest the day after Christmas when we was technically the interim head coach. She's applied for the job on a permanent basis after Ellen Hansen left over the summer to bring anything woman and I'm looking forward to getting a chance to meet her and talk to her on portfolio on January 2nd will be talkin to Twin Cities physical therapist. Copeland read my schedule on January 2nd is I have a feeling that a lot of you are going to make New Year's resolutions that are health and fitness related. Yes. I'm going to get in shape this year. Yes. I'm going to tone up. Yes. I'm going to lose some weight time will help you start to approach things from a sensible point of view on January 9th. My guests will be Washington Post college basketball writer John Feinstein the author of a season on the brink year with Bobby Knight in the Indiana Hoosiers the best selling sports book of all time and an outstanding book and John's a fun guy to talk to help me with this on January 9th of January 16th. I guess we'll be University Minnesota wrestling Coach Jay Robinson a man willing to pursue Excellence for its own sake on the mats. I liked you a lot. He's he marches to a different drum, especially for the University sports establishment. I think you'll like him and I agree with him. I think you like and then after that who only knows we did have a suggestion here from a listener a couple weeks ago to put the Don Riley on the year at some point and I think we'll do that sometime the end of January or February, but I would To do on January 30th, the Saturday of Super Bowl weekend is have our annual Super Bowl weekend chat with Bill James cuz I do like to make sure we talked a lot about baseball when the rest of the world is paying attention to the Superbowl. Yes. We like to say anything. It's been fun. Yeah. I'm really glad that you took the time out from your personal life Howard and packing for your travels. I know that when Christmas comes you get in your sleigh on Christmas Eve and distribute things. I'm glad you were able to take care of. Thank you for spending some of your Saturday with us and Josh was good for me. Thank you very much. I'll see you later. Oh my goodness, where do these things start and where they stopped at any rate? We'll do it again next Saturday at noon. Thank you very much for your forbearance and tolerance of our attempted to program this afternoon. I'm flustered. I'm shook but the good ones could admit that go on and get on with the rest of our life been a ball and that's why we call it sportfolio. So once again next Saturday, he runs portfolio the day after Christmas. My guess would be LaRue Fields women's basketball coach at the University of Minnesota. I think you associate producer suing. Can you answer the phones today? I stapled things together pretty well technical Wizardry by Jeff Walker. Thank you for listening. Have a happy holiday and I'll see you next week. best best best best best best best best best friend 30 degrees in the Twin Cities probably still some flurries where you are. There are some flurries where I am. We have a chance of all kinds of precipitation yet this afternoon some flurries and snow and freezing rain and drizzle goodness knows only knows what so if you're going to be traveling in an automobile today be ready for anything could happen and I'll get down to low twenties with a Chance of some more stuff coming out of the sky before things clear up a little bit tomorrow you listen to the news and Information Services, Minnesota Public Radio ksjn, 1330 Minneapolis-Saint Paul world, and national news is next in the Associated Press and then Mark Ice Dad follows with the week in review.