The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey

#0: Gopher softball (Last Week: -1).  It's been a dreary fucking spring, both weather- and sports-wise, and no one should be under any illusions that they'll win the Women's College World Series or anything.  But as of press time, the University of Minnesota softball squad deserves a lot of notice.  They completed a sweep of Ohio St. in Columbus last Sunday by crushing the Buckeyes, 7-0, then took the first two Games of a three-Game series at home versus Michigan by playing a Pitchers' duel Friday (3-0) and a slugfest yesterday/Saturday afternoon (13-10).  Notably, it's the U.'s first series Win over the Wolverines in 11 Years.  Most notably, the Golden Gophers are on a ten-Game winning streak.  With the regular season final this/Sunday afternoon left to go, they will clinch at least third-place in the Big Ten standings and Tournament (to be held later this Week at Illinois), and their spot in the NCAAs seems a lock.  And that's why they're not only topping this screening Week's WMNNS, they get to rise above negative numbers, too.

#-1: Twins (Last Week: -2).  A 3-3 screening Week.  The Chicago White Sox are, next to the St. Louis Cardinals (and what the fuck has happened to them?!), The Most Disappointing Team In Major League Baseball, and yet they were able to take two-of-three in their midweek series against the Twinks in Comiskey.  (Pablo Lopez gave up the lead to the ChiSox in Tuesday's 3-2, ten-Inning Loss, and he's been absolutely scuffling lately.)  And they've split their first two contests with the Guardians in Cleveland this weekend, shutting them out Friday, 2-0, but losing yesterday/Saturday, 4-3.

The only saving grace is that somehow the Twins have increased their lead in the American League Central to three Games ... and it's not over Cleveland, who technically are in third as of press time, but Detroit, of all teams.  Let's not get carried away here; Minnesota is the only team in the Division sporting a record above .500.  To get to the postseason, it feels likely Minnesota will have to be the squad that ends up on the top of a pile of crap.  So it goes in professional baseball.

One more at Cleveland today/Sunday, a day off, then they come home for a pair of three-Game series with San Diego and the Cubs.

#-2: Gopher baseball (Last Week: -3).  Got swept at Nebraska, losing last Sunday, 11-5.  But, like the softball club, they came home and have also beaten Michigan to take the series, winning 4-0 Friday and 4-2 yesterday/Saturday afternoon.  I just refreshed my memory of how the B1G formats their baseball tournament.  The top eight teams advance to play in a double-elimination format.  I doubt it could happen, but Minnesota currently is tenth and only two Games behind the Wolverines for the eighth and final spot.  They could complete the sweep of Michigan this/Sunday afternoon, but they'll have to then go to College Park for a three-Game set vs. Maryland, who leads the league.  There's a non-zero chance that they'll still make it to the conference tourney.

#-3: United FC (Re-Entry!).  Yeah, I wonder why I'm a season ticket-holder.  Plenty of chances in last Sunday night's scoreless Draw at Allianz against FC Dallas, then they lose 3-2 last/Saturday night in Vancouver where they ship the go-ahead and winning Goals in the Second Half four Minutes apart.  Jeong Sang-bin scored for the first time as a Loon to bring MNUFC to within one, but he was subbed off late due to an apparent injury.  United FC has now lost four-of-five to slip into the Western Conference Play-In Game.

Maybe this is the perfect time for the cavalry to ride in.  And miraculously, yesterday/Saturday came word that Emmanuel Reynoso is flying from his native Argentina to the Twin Cities to finally rejoin the XI.  I still have no fucking clue as to what is going on with him, and some others are so fed up with both the in-season return and the radio silence over his absence that they're saying fuck this guy, trade him and use the money to bring in people who want to play for this club.  Can't argue with that, but on the flip side, this team is sinking like a stone, and the sooner Rey gets in shape, he can get on the pitch and (possibly) save this squad.  I'm not really sure if we have any choice other than hoping he can get his fitness back ASAP.

They host Philadelphia in a U. S. Open Cup Round of 32 tilt Tuesday at The Nest; I'm going and paying $44 to probably see them go down in flames.  They then visit Kansas City in league play Saturday.