Ohtani Rules the WBC, Whitecaps Shock the Hockey World, and Karl-Anthony Towns Off the Bench?

We discuss Shohei Ohtani and Samurai Japan beating Mike Trout and Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, the Minnesota Whitecaps shocking the women’s hockey world, and the whether the Timberwolves are better served by Karl-Anthony Towns coming off the bench.

Timothy Burke @bubbaprog

AS CALLED ON JAPANESE TV:

The Most-Watched Baseball Game Ever Played

• According to Elite Dingers on Instagram, 97.4% of all households in Japan tuned in to see Shohei Ohtani strike out Mike Trout… 

• Also per Elite Dingers, Mike Trout had three swinging strikes in 24 of his 6,174 MLB plate appearances… 

• Anthony still fell asleep during the second intermission of the Wild game, but baseball got the big TV and audio

Will Willi Castro Make Twins’ Opening Day Roster?

• Do-Hyoung Park thinks the non-roster Spring Training invite could make the Opening Day roster

  • Non-tendered by Tigers despite playing six different positions

  • 1.049 OPS this Spring (nine-for-29)

  • Could fill in for Jorge Polanco at second base; he’s still dealing with soreness and is behind schedule

• Byron Buxton is expected to start as Twins’ designated hitter

  • Do we like this?

St. Paul Saints Unveil New Food Offerings

• Included on the menu is a footlong hot dog with brisket and bacon, Southern style chicken and biscuits with gravy, and “mac and meat,” or mac and cheese with brisket

Join Our Fantasy Baseball League

• Need one more to make eight for our draft this weekend

  • Purchase an annual subscription to our Substack for $50 to join at gogonzojournal.substack.com

Minnesota Whitecaps Shock the Hockey World

• After losing eight straight to end the season thanks to Anthony’s curse, with just one overtime loss over that time, the Whitecaps won two straight games in Boston over the Premier Hockey Federation’s top seed

  • Games weren’t even close (5-2 in Game 1 and 4-1 in Game 2)

  • Whitecaps looked like the better team throughout

    • Defensive pressure forced turnovers the Caps turned into goals

    • Amanda Levielle had 47 saves in Game 2

      • The Whitecaps are a different team with her in goal

  • Minnesota will take on the Toronto Six, the two-seed, in the Isobel Cup Championship on Sunday at 7 pm CST

    • Caps were 0-4 against Toronto in the regular season, but were 0-4 against Boston before the playoffs, too

    • Watch on ESPN+ 

    • Or join Anthony at 9milebrewing for a watch party

      • Those wearing Whitecaps gear get $1 off pints

Marney Gellner’s Annual Mammogram Catches Breast Cancer Early

• Our favorite broadcaster will be fine

  • Annual mammograms help detect breast cancer before it becomes invasive

Speaking of Women, How About Women’s March Madness?

• Two one-seeds fall on home court

  • Indiana loses to Miami

    • Miami’s first Sweet 16

  • Stanford lost to Ole Miss

• Duke also lost to Colorado on home court

  • Do we like higher seeds playing on home court?

Karl-Anthony Towns Returns

• Expects to play tonight after being out for almost four months with a calf strain

• Anthony Edwards is not expected to play

It’s Wednesday, and You Know What that Means!

• Orange Cassidy will wrestle with Darby Allin and undefeated Sting (12-0 in AEW) against The Butcher, The Blade, and Kip Sabian

  • With The Bunny and Penelope Ford ringside

• FTW Champion Hook will finally get his hands on Stokely Hathaway in a No DQ match

• Toni Storm will take on Skye Blue in the ongoing saga between AEW OG ladies and free agents

• The Gunns will defend the AEW Tag Team Championships against Minneapolis’ own Top Flight