Check in on the week of Minnesota sports news
Minnesota Twins' Matt Wallner scores during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday in St. Louis, Mo.
Jeff Roberson | AP
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It’s time for sports!
Sports guys Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson joined MPR News host Cathy Wurzer with the latest in Twins, Vikings and Gophers news.
Wally is the creator of Minnesota Score Magazine and the host of the 10,000 Takes sports talk show. His co-host is Eric Nelson, who is also the Minnesota Vikings Reporter for CBS Sports’ “Eye on Football.”
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
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Audio transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] KATHY: Pivoting, as we always do, it's time for sports. And our sports guys are here, Wally Langfellow, Eric Nelson. Wally he's the creator of Minnesota Score Magazine and the host of the 10,000 Take Sports Talk Show on radio and TV. His co-host is Eric Nelson, who is also the Minnesota Vikings reporter for CBS Sports Eye on Football show. Hey, you guys. I missed you last week. How are you?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, we missed you too. And now you have driven up my hunger pains talking to the guy who owns Leo's Malt Shop in downtown Stillwater. That's one of my favorite spots.
KATHY: I do actually know that about you. Hey, Eric. How are you? Eric, are you with me? Oh, you're kidding. Eric was here. OK, Wally. I'm going to talk to you while we get Eric back on the line here. How's that? Say, by the way, I want to start with the Twins, Wally. Let's talk a little bit about what's happening with Minnesota and Saint Louis.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, they play again tonight. Twins lost last night 7 to 3, Cardinals jumping all over Twins starter Joe Ryan. And Joe Ryan has struggled of late. The series now even at 1 because the Twins did win on Tuesday. But last night was not good for Joe Ryan. He gave up four home runs. And he has definitely struggled in his last few starts. He has now given up 17 home runs in his last seven starts. That's the most homers in Twins history for a Twins starter over a seven-game stretch.
And that goes back all the way to 1961 and includes Bert Blyleven, who gave up a lot of bombs back in his day. So he needs to-- they really need him to come back to where he was. Because look, he was 7 and 1 at one point. And things have gone downhill. He's now given up 31 runs in his last 32 innings a pitch. So that's basically a run per inning. Can't do that if you're going to be an effective starter in major league baseball.
KATHY: I hear--
WALLY LANGFELLOW: So he is-- Yes.
KATHY: I hear Eric Nelson breathing in the background, by the way. Hey, Eric.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Oh for goodness sake.
KATHY: Yeah, sorry.
ERIC NELSON: I'm huffing and puffing.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Can I finish?
KATHY: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Can I--
KATHY: Feel free.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Thank you. Yes. I mean, the guy shows up late and then he expects to take my time.
ERIC NELSON: No, I was on the air. Believe me.
KATHY: It's OK.
ERIC NELSON: We had another technological glitch.
KATHY: Oh, that happens. OK.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Imagine that.
KATHY: Finish your thought there, Mr. Langfellow.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Thank you. Twins now have a just a two-game lead. They're clinging to a two-game lead over Cleveland in the American League comedy central, as we call it, because they are in a division that nobody seems to want to win. So they play again tonight. It is the Twins and the Cardinals in Saint Louis. And they start, I believe, at 6:40.
KATHY: So Eric, when we've talked in the past, you have said that the central division really is just kind of a, well, mediocre if you could say that, at best.
ERIC NELSON: And that's being kind. The folks in real estate always say location, location, location. Well, that's what Minnesota has going for it. They play in the AL Central. Twins record is 55 and 54. That is a worse record than all five teams in the American League East, four teams in the AL West, three teams in the NL East, three in the NL Central, and three in the NL West.
They would be buried in a lot of other divisions. But in the central, it means they're on top. The Twins, of course, made no moves to get better at the trading deadline, which came and went a couple of days ago.
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing around major league baseball. But the Twins stood pat. Maybe that's a good thing. Last year, they made some moves and everything backfired. They did not work out. Now Cleveland, the team closest to the Twins, apparently is waving a white flag. I mean, they're in the race but they dealt away some key players like Aaron Civale, their pitcher, Josh Bell, a key hitter in their lineup.
I think what may happen here, and you can't assume the Twins are still going to win the division, but whoever comes out on top in the AL Central, it'll be a title by default. But somebody's going to the playoffs. Maybe it'll be Minnesota.
KATHY: Maybe. We'll see. So I have completely ignored Vikings training camp. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. I mean, when they were in Mankato, I would pay attention. Now, that they have got their own place, I don't know. So how is training camp going, by the way?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, I mean, it's still training camp. But you're right. I mean, it's not like a special thing anymore because they're at the same spot they are during the regular season. They practice in the same facility, they practice on the same field, and so on, and so forth. It's just more convenient. And it's a moneymaker now for the Minnesota Vikings. They charge people to get in.
So if you want to go out to TCO Performance Center in Eagan, it's 10 bucks if you want to watch practice. You got to buy tickets online ahead of time. $5.00 for kids. As for the football part of it, Alexander Madison, he seems to be OK. He limped off the practice field on Tuesday but was at practice again yesterday. So he seems to be OK. Tishton Jackson, he appears to be OK as well. He was hurt on Tuesday. And it looked to be serious with his knee. But apparently, it's just a sore knee at this point. And they think that he'll be OK.
I guess the big news over the last week or so is Danielle Hunter with his new contract. Hoping that, of course, the Vikings, hoping he can stay on the field. Injuries have been his bugaboo the last few years. He has played in three pro bowls but has been battling injuries. They need him on that defense, which is very young, and struggled last year. One of the worst defenses in the entire NFL. Oh, by the way, the Vikings open up the preseason one week from tonight in Seattle.
KATHY: What? OK. Say, Eric--
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Already.
KATHY: Already. My gosh. I hear that there is a game tonight, right? A pretty big game?
ERIC NELSON: Yeah, well, it's counterfeit football. I mean, it's the pre-season. And none of it counts. And the starters rarely touch the field. But yes, here comes the NFL. The shield is now ready to bigfoot every other sport in its way and start garnering a ton of media attention. Not that the NFL doesn't get a lot in the offseason, but here we go. Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, which is the birthplace of the National Football League. New York Jets against Cleveland.
And how about the New York Jets, Kathy? They definitely have a Green Bay flavor. We know they acquired the superstar, Aaron Rodgers, in the off season to play quarterback. But you also have ex Packers Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Billy Turner, who's from Mounds View, Minnesota, went to North Dakota State, Adrian Amos. All of those guys are joining Rodgers in New Jersey with the New York Jets. Let's not forget they do play in Jersey.
There is a chance Dalvin Cook, who once upon a time was a star running back with the Minnesota Vikings, but was let go in a cap related move, Dalvin Cook could become a member of the Jets. He's still weighing his options. Miami is in the mix. Maybe New England. But yes. Here comes the NFL. And the avalanche will start tonight in Ohio.
KATHY: Say, speaking of Hall of Fame, did you guys talk about this last week? What in the world? Jim Marshall did not make it into the Hall of Fame. What a stupid move was that?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, he didn't even make it into the next round--
KATHY: Well, I mean--
WALLY LANGFELLOW: I mean--
KATHY: That's-- yeah.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah, he didn't even make it out of the-- the original list. And then he didn't make it to the semifinalist, so to speak. Yeah, it's ridiculous. He and Chuck Foreman-- and we did talk about it last week.
KATHY: OK.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: He and Chuck Foreman should be one, two on that list. And you could pick your order of former Vikings in particular. But players in general. How in the world those two aren't in the football Hall of Fame is beyond me.
KATHY: Well, there you go. All right. I know you guys are busy. Thank you, and I'll talk to you next week. OK?
ERIC NELSON: Thanks, Kathy. Enjoy the start of the NFL.
KATHY: You know I will, Eric Nelson.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Oh my--
KATHY: Wally Langfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score Sports Magazine. Eric Nelson is the co-host of 10,000 Takes. He's with CBS Sports radio's "Eye on the NFL". That is it for us here on Minnesota Now.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, we missed you too. And now you have driven up my hunger pains talking to the guy who owns Leo's Malt Shop in downtown Stillwater. That's one of my favorite spots.
KATHY: I do actually know that about you. Hey, Eric. How are you? Eric, are you with me? Oh, you're kidding. Eric was here. OK, Wally. I'm going to talk to you while we get Eric back on the line here. How's that? Say, by the way, I want to start with the Twins, Wally. Let's talk a little bit about what's happening with Minnesota and Saint Louis.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, they play again tonight. Twins lost last night 7 to 3, Cardinals jumping all over Twins starter Joe Ryan. And Joe Ryan has struggled of late. The series now even at 1 because the Twins did win on Tuesday. But last night was not good for Joe Ryan. He gave up four home runs. And he has definitely struggled in his last few starts. He has now given up 17 home runs in his last seven starts. That's the most homers in Twins history for a Twins starter over a seven-game stretch.
And that goes back all the way to 1961 and includes Bert Blyleven, who gave up a lot of bombs back in his day. So he needs to-- they really need him to come back to where he was. Because look, he was 7 and 1 at one point. And things have gone downhill. He's now given up 31 runs in his last 32 innings a pitch. So that's basically a run per inning. Can't do that if you're going to be an effective starter in major league baseball.
KATHY: I hear--
WALLY LANGFELLOW: So he is-- Yes.
KATHY: I hear Eric Nelson breathing in the background, by the way. Hey, Eric.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Oh for goodness sake.
KATHY: Yeah, sorry.
ERIC NELSON: I'm huffing and puffing.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Can I finish?
KATHY: Yes, go ahead. Go ahead.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Can I--
KATHY: Feel free.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Thank you. Yes. I mean, the guy shows up late and then he expects to take my time.
ERIC NELSON: No, I was on the air. Believe me.
KATHY: It's OK.
ERIC NELSON: We had another technological glitch.
KATHY: Oh, that happens. OK.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Imagine that.
KATHY: Finish your thought there, Mr. Langfellow.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Thank you. Twins now have a just a two-game lead. They're clinging to a two-game lead over Cleveland in the American League comedy central, as we call it, because they are in a division that nobody seems to want to win. So they play again tonight. It is the Twins and the Cardinals in Saint Louis. And they start, I believe, at 6:40.
KATHY: So Eric, when we've talked in the past, you have said that the central division really is just kind of a, well, mediocre if you could say that, at best.
ERIC NELSON: And that's being kind. The folks in real estate always say location, location, location. Well, that's what Minnesota has going for it. They play in the AL Central. Twins record is 55 and 54. That is a worse record than all five teams in the American League East, four teams in the AL West, three teams in the NL East, three in the NL Central, and three in the NL West.
They would be buried in a lot of other divisions. But in the central, it means they're on top. The Twins, of course, made no moves to get better at the trading deadline, which came and went a couple of days ago.
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing around major league baseball. But the Twins stood pat. Maybe that's a good thing. Last year, they made some moves and everything backfired. They did not work out. Now Cleveland, the team closest to the Twins, apparently is waving a white flag. I mean, they're in the race but they dealt away some key players like Aaron Civale, their pitcher, Josh Bell, a key hitter in their lineup.
I think what may happen here, and you can't assume the Twins are still going to win the division, but whoever comes out on top in the AL Central, it'll be a title by default. But somebody's going to the playoffs. Maybe it'll be Minnesota.
KATHY: Maybe. We'll see. So I have completely ignored Vikings training camp. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. I mean, when they were in Mankato, I would pay attention. Now, that they have got their own place, I don't know. So how is training camp going, by the way?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, I mean, it's still training camp. But you're right. I mean, it's not like a special thing anymore because they're at the same spot they are during the regular season. They practice in the same facility, they practice on the same field, and so on, and so forth. It's just more convenient. And it's a moneymaker now for the Minnesota Vikings. They charge people to get in.
So if you want to go out to TCO Performance Center in Eagan, it's 10 bucks if you want to watch practice. You got to buy tickets online ahead of time. $5.00 for kids. As for the football part of it, Alexander Madison, he seems to be OK. He limped off the practice field on Tuesday but was at practice again yesterday. So he seems to be OK. Tishton Jackson, he appears to be OK as well. He was hurt on Tuesday. And it looked to be serious with his knee. But apparently, it's just a sore knee at this point. And they think that he'll be OK.
I guess the big news over the last week or so is Danielle Hunter with his new contract. Hoping that, of course, the Vikings, hoping he can stay on the field. Injuries have been his bugaboo the last few years. He has played in three pro bowls but has been battling injuries. They need him on that defense, which is very young, and struggled last year. One of the worst defenses in the entire NFL. Oh, by the way, the Vikings open up the preseason one week from tonight in Seattle.
KATHY: What? OK. Say, Eric--
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Already.
KATHY: Already. My gosh. I hear that there is a game tonight, right? A pretty big game?
ERIC NELSON: Yeah, well, it's counterfeit football. I mean, it's the pre-season. And none of it counts. And the starters rarely touch the field. But yes, here comes the NFL. The shield is now ready to bigfoot every other sport in its way and start garnering a ton of media attention. Not that the NFL doesn't get a lot in the offseason, but here we go. Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, which is the birthplace of the National Football League. New York Jets against Cleveland.
And how about the New York Jets, Kathy? They definitely have a Green Bay flavor. We know they acquired the superstar, Aaron Rodgers, in the off season to play quarterback. But you also have ex Packers Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Billy Turner, who's from Mounds View, Minnesota, went to North Dakota State, Adrian Amos. All of those guys are joining Rodgers in New Jersey with the New York Jets. Let's not forget they do play in Jersey.
There is a chance Dalvin Cook, who once upon a time was a star running back with the Minnesota Vikings, but was let go in a cap related move, Dalvin Cook could become a member of the Jets. He's still weighing his options. Miami is in the mix. Maybe New England. But yes. Here comes the NFL. And the avalanche will start tonight in Ohio.
KATHY: Say, speaking of Hall of Fame, did you guys talk about this last week? What in the world? Jim Marshall did not make it into the Hall of Fame. What a stupid move was that?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, he didn't even make it into the next round--
KATHY: Well, I mean--
WALLY LANGFELLOW: I mean--
KATHY: That's-- yeah.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Yeah, he didn't even make it out of the-- the original list. And then he didn't make it to the semifinalist, so to speak. Yeah, it's ridiculous. He and Chuck Foreman-- and we did talk about it last week.
KATHY: OK.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: He and Chuck Foreman should be one, two on that list. And you could pick your order of former Vikings in particular. But players in general. How in the world those two aren't in the football Hall of Fame is beyond me.
KATHY: Well, there you go. All right. I know you guys are busy. Thank you, and I'll talk to you next week. OK?
ERIC NELSON: Thanks, Kathy. Enjoy the start of the NFL.
KATHY: You know I will, Eric Nelson.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Oh my--
KATHY: Wally Langfellow is the founder of Minnesota Score Sports Magazine. Eric Nelson is the co-host of 10,000 Takes. He's with CBS Sports radio's "Eye on the NFL". That is it for us here on Minnesota Now.
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