This Day in Sports History - 1/21/2004

The Minnesota Wild set an NHL record by scoring two goals three seconds apart during a 4 - 2 triumph over the Chicago Blackhawks at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The previous record is five seconds, shared by four teams. With 15.5 seconds remaining, C Jim Dowd puts in a long rebound of his own slapshot to break a 2 - 2 deadlock. Three seconds later, RW Richard Park takes the puck off the faceoff and flicks it into the empty net. The defeat is part of a 19-game franchise record winless streak for the Blackhawks away from home, in which the club dropped 18 in regulation and one in overtime.

This Day in Sports History - 1/12/1975

The Pittsburgh Steelers capture their first NFL Championship in franchise history, downing the Minnesota Vikings, 16 - 6, in Super Bowl IX at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. The Steel Curtain defense dominates throughout and creates a 2 - 0 halftime lead on a safety when DE Dwight White sacks QB Fran Tarkenton in the end zone.

Jason Kubel

The Arizona Diamondbacks signed Jason Kubel to a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd year. Kubel had a career year in 2009 when he batted .300 with 28 HRs and 103 RBIs. In 2010 his numbers dipped a little bit and in 2011 Kubel suffered through some injuries. Kubel should help bring a solid left-handed hitting bat to a team with many RH batters.

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Matt Capps

The Minnesota Twins re-signed closer Matt Capps to a one year deal with an option for 2013. With longtime closer Joe Nathan leaving for Texas, Capps will be the undisputed closer entering the season. Capps has 124 career saves, a career save percentage of 77% and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 301-80. If the Twins can rebound from the tough season they had last year then Capps' save numbers should be very high.

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Michael Cuddyer

Michael Cuddyer left the Minnesota Twins and signed with the Colorado Rockies. Cuddyer is expected to provide solid protection for Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez as well as the ability to play multiple positions although he'll be primarily playing in RF. Cuddyer's career numbers are not exceptional, but his consistency is what makes him the player he is.

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Ryan Doumit

The Minnesota Twins signed Ryan Doumit to a 1 year deal worth $3 million. Doumit will primarily back-up Joe Mauer while playing some time at 1B, OF & DH. This will also give the Twins the opportunity to let Mauer play some time at first & DH. Doumit's fielding % by position is as follows, C: .986; 1B: .985 & OF: .964. Doumit brings some solid pop with his bat as well with a career .271 batting average and 67 HRs.

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Jim Thome

The first piece of the Free Agency puzzle is Jim Thome signing with the Philadelphia Phillies for a one year $1.25 million contract. Phillies 1B Ryan Howard will be missing the beginning of the season but don't expect to see Thome at first too often. He'll primarily be used as a big bat off the bench. Thome has 604 career home-runs and is a good guy & teammate. Something to look for is that Thome is good friends with Michael Cuddyer who is also a free agent and would fit in well with the Phillies because he's a right-handed bat who can play both corner infield & outfield positions.

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RIP Harmon Killebrew

Best by the Numbers - Minnesota Edition

1. Warren Moon
2. Malik Sealy
3. Stephon Marbury
4. Paul Molitor: Molitor's 3,000th hit came as a member of the Twins, he's the only player to get his 3,000th hit with a triple
5. Kim Johnsson
6. Tony Oliva
7. Joe Mauer: Mauer is a three time AL Batting Champion
8. Gary Gaetti
9. Mikko Koivu
10. Wally Szczerbiak
11. Daunte Culpepper
12. Brian Harper
13. Luke Ridnour
14. Brad Johnson
15. Christian Guzman
16. Frank Viola
17. Petr Sykora
18. Jason Bartlett
19. Sam Cassell
20. Madieu Williams: Williams received the "Walter Payton Man of the Year" award for his charitable work
21. Kevin Garnett
22. Brad Radke: Radke had 148 wins in his career spent entirely in Minnesota
23. Brendan Harris
24. Bobby Jackson
25. Al Jefferson
26. Robert Smith: Smith, an Ohio State alumn, holds the Vikings all-time record for rushing yards with 6,818
27. David Ortiz
28. Bert Blyleven: Will be inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2011
29. Rod Carew
30. Terry Porter
31. Chris Cook
32. Christian Laettner
33. Justin Morneau
34. Kirby Puckett: Puckett played all 12 years of his career for the Twins
35. Manny Fernandez
36. Joe Nathan
37. Jimmy Hitchcock
38. Rick Aguilera
39. Jaun Rincon
40. Jim Kleinsasser
41. Jeff Reardon
42. Darren Sharper
43. Chris Carr
44. Dave Casper
45. Chuck Person
46. Cullen Loeffler
47. Jack Morris: Morris won a World Series in his only season with the Twins
48. Torii Hunter
49. Tony Richardson
50. Matt Lawton
51. Ben Leber
52. Chad Greenway
53. Joe Mays
54. Matt Guerrier
55. Mike Redmond
56. Chris Doleman
57. Johan Santana: Santana won 2 Cy Youngs as a member of the Twins
58. Ed McDaniel
59. Dixon Edwards
60. Jon Rauch
61. Everett Lindsay
62. Jeff Christy
63. Corbin Lacina
64. Randall McDaniel
65. Gary Zimmerman
66. Grant Wiley
67. Benoit Pouliot
68. Mike Morris
69. Jared Allen
70. Jim Marshall: Marshall has the record for consecutive starts by a DE with 270
71. David Dixon
72. Jason Fisk
73. Todd Steussie
74. Bryant McKinnie
75. Joe Phillips
76. Steve Hutchinson
77. Korey Stringer
78. Matt Birk: Birk was a 6th round pick out of Harvard
79. Artis Hicks
80. Chris Carter: Carter, an Ohio State alumn, was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2003
81. Visante Schainco
82. Troy Walters
83. Robert Tate
84. Randy Moss: Moss was drafted 21st overall by the Vikings in 1998
85. Greg Camarillo
86. Jake Reed
87. Bernard Berrian
88. Alan Page: Page is currently an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court
89. Matthew Hatchette
90. Derrick Alexander
91. John Burrough
92. Duane Clemons
93. John Randle: Randle was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010
94. Pat Williams
95. Kenechi Udeze
96. Pierre-Marc Bouchard
97. Talance Sawyer
98. Letroy Guion
99. Napoleon Harris
    

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Orlando Hudson

The San Diego Padres signed Orlando Hudson to a two year deal. Hudson will play 2B and bring some veteran leadership to a young team. Hudson is a 2 time All-Star and has won 4 Gold Gloves. He is part of a new up-the-middle duo with recently acquired SS Jason Bartlett. This is Hudson's 4th team in as many years and has helped lead the Dodgers and Twins into the post-season in 2009 & 2010 respectively.

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