Carlos Correa’s torrid stretch earns him player of the week honors

posted in: News | 0

Carlos Correa may just be the hottest hitter on the planet, and after a torrid week at the plate, the Twins’ shortstop earned himself American League Player of the Week honors.

Correa went 17 for 31 last week (.548) with three home runs, nine RBIs and nine runs scored. He led the major leagues in hits, total bases and runs scored. Five of those hits came in one game when he recorded a new career high against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

The shortstop currently is on an eight-game hitting streak. In six of those games, he has multiple hits. Correa has been red-hot since June started, hitting .431 with a 1.108 OPS this month. In the process, he’s lifted his batting average from .259 to .308 and his OPS from .778 to .878.

“I started the season feeling great, then went on the IL for a little bit and then couldn’t quite find the feel,” Correa said Sunday. “Lately, I’ve bene feeling a lot better in terms of what I was feeling prior to the injury. I’m in a good spot right now. Now, I just want to make it last as long as possible.”

It’s the fourth time Correa has earned these honors and the first time as a member of the Twins as he makes a push for inclusion in next month’s All-Star Game.

In the first voting update, released Monday, Correa sat 10th among shortstops. He is the only Twins player to appear in the top 10 of voting at his position. While he is unlikely to get voted in by fans —  leaders at shortstop, Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr., had 740,436 and 541,261 votes respectively to Correa’s 60,311 — he’s certainly been making his case for a spot as a reserve.

“Every single time he swings the bat, I feel like he’s barreling it up. Every single time,” teammate Bailey Ober said. “ … I wouldn’t want to face him right now.”

Austin Martin honored

Correa wasn’t the only Twin to be honored on Monday. Rookie Austin Martin’s home run robbery of Shea Langeliers was named MLB’s play of the week.

In the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader Martin leapt up, threw his glove past the wall in center field and came down with the ball, much to the surprise of even himself.

“I felt it go in my glove, but my whole arm kind of went over, so I didn’t know what I would be bringing back,” he said. “I didn’t expect to bring back a baseball. So, when I looked and I had it, I was like, ‘Dang, that’s not bad.’ ”

Martin put the catch among the top three of his career before revising his answer. “I guess that was the best one I’ve had, honestly,” he said.

Briefly

The Twins have released Keoni Cavaco, whom they selected 13th overall in the 2019 draft. The 23-year-old never played above high Class A. He was hitting .144 in 34 games with Cedar Rapids at the time of his release and was a career .212 hitter in the minor leagues.

Related Articles

Minnesota Twins |


Twins’ big trio helps lead them to victory over Athletics

Minnesota Twins |


Twins rally to edge Royals, take three of four from AL Central rival

Minnesota Twins |


Twins’ Carlos Correa pitches idea to improve umpiring

Minnesota Twins |


Twins shut out for second time in sweep by Yankees

Minnesota Twins |


When will Twins star Royce Lewis return? ‘He’s not coming back until he’s completely healthy’

No arrests as police name Roseville man fatally shot last week in Payne-Phalen

posted in: Society | 0

A man killed in a shooting last week in St. Paul was a 21-year-old from Roseville, police said Monday.

Police as of Monday afternoon had not arrested anyone in Saw Da Por’s killing. Investigators asked anyone with information to call them at 651-266-5650.

Officers responded to the 800 block of East Maryland Avenue in the Payne-Phalen area around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday after receiving 911 calls. Police found Saw Da Por with multiple gunshot injuries in the rear parking lot of an apartment building at Maryland and Mendota avenues. St. Paul Fire Department medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

The homicide was the 12th of the year in St. Paul. There were 17 during the same period last year.

Related Articles

Crime & Public Safety |


January 6 investigation lingers as 2024 election nears

Crime & Public Safety |


BCA identifies 3 Minneapolis officers involved in fatal shooting

Crime & Public Safety |


22-year-old inmate found dead in his cell at Stillwater prison Saturday morning

Crime & Public Safety |


No foul play suspected in woman’s fatal fall at downtown St. Paul parking ramp, police say

Crime & Public Safety |


Charges: Motorist who struck man on I-94 in St. Paul said he thought he hit an animal, so he left the scene

Netanyahu dissolved his war Cabinet. How will that affect cease-fire efforts?

posted in: Society | 0

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disbanded his war Cabinet Monday, a move that consolidates his influence over the Israel-Hamas war and likely diminishes the odds of a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip anytime soon.

Netanyahu announced the step days after his chief political rival, Benny Gantz, withdrew from the three-member war Cabinet. Gantz, a retired general and member of parliament, was widely seen as a more moderate voice.

Major war policies will now be solely approved by Netanyahu’s security Cabinet — a larger body that is dominated by hard-liners who oppose the U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal and want to press ahead with the war.

Netanyahu is expected to consult on some decisions with close allies in ad-hoc meetings, said an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

These closed-door meetings could blunt some of the influence of the hard-liners. But Netanyahu himself has shown little enthusiasm for the cease-fire plan and his reliance on the full security Cabinet could give him cover to prolong a decision.

Here’s key background about the war Cabinet, and what disbanding it means for cease-fire prospects:

Why did Gantz join and then quit the war Cabinet?

The war Cabinet was formed after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel when Gantz, an opposition party leader, joined with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a show of unity. Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Canada, and European Union.

At the time, Gantz demanded that a small decision-making body steer the war in a bid to sideline far-right members of Netanyahu’s government.

But Gantz left the Cabinet earlier this month after months of mounting tensions over Israel’s strategy in Gaza.

He said he was fed up with a lack of progress bringing home the dozens of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. He accused Netanyahu of drawing out the war to avoid new elections and a corruption trial. He called on Netanyahu to endorse a plan that — among other points — would rescue the captives and end Hamas rule in Gaza.

When Netanyahu did not express support for the plan, Gantz announced his departure. He said that “fateful strategic decisions” in the Cabinet were being “met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations.”

How will Israel’s wartime policies likely be changed?

The disbanding of the war Cabinet only further distances Netanyahu from centrist politicians more open to a cease-fire deal with Hamas.

Months of cease-fire talks have failed to find common ground between Hamas and Israeli leaders. Both Israel and Hamas have been reluctant to fully endorse a U.S.-backed plan that would return hostages, clear the way for an end to the war, and commence a rebuilding effort of the decimated territory.

Netanyahu will now rely on the members of his security Cabinet, some of whom oppose cease-fire deals and have voiced support for reoccupying Gaza.

After Gantz’s departure, Israel’s ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, demanded inclusion in a renewed war Cabinet. Monday’s move could help keep Ben-Gvir at a distance, but it cannot sideline him altogether.

The move also gives Netanyahu leeway to draw out the war to stay in power. Netanyahu’s critics accuse him of delaying because an end to the war would mean an investigation into the government’s failures on Oct. 7 and raise the likelihood of new elections when the prime minister’s popularity is low.

“It means that he will make all the decisions himself, or with people that he trusts who don’t challenge him,” said Gideon Rahat, chairman of the political science department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “And his interest is in having a slow-attrition war.”

Related Articles

World News |


The war in Gaza has wiped out entire Palestinian families. AP documents 60 who lost dozens or more

World News |


Muslim pilgrims resume symbolic stoning of the devil as they wrap up Hajj pilgrimage in deadly heat

World News |


Netanyahu dissolves influential war Cabinet after key partner bolted from government

World News |


Biden vs. Trump: Where they stand on Israel, Palestinians, Middle East

World News |


Blinken casts doubt on cease-fire prospects after Hamas responds

Torrid Matt Wallner is International League player of the week

posted in: News | 0

Forest Lake’s Matt Wallner was named the Class AAA International League’s player of the week on Monday for his performance with the Saints last week.

Wallner hit a league-best .519 across six games in Louisville, going 14 for 27 with two doubles and pacing the league with both five home runs and 11 RBI. He also led the league in hits, slugging percentage (1.148), OPS (1.700), total bases (31) and runs (11).

The outfielder collected at least one hit in all six games, now riding a season-best, seven-game hit streak with multiple hits in each of the past four games, including a pair of four-hit nights. In June, Wallner leads the league in hits (23), home runs (9), extra-base hits (13), slugging percentage (.931), OPS (1.384), RBI (19) and total bases (54).

Saints pitcher Randy Dobnak was named the International League’s pitcher of the week on Monday, as well. On Saturday, the veteran right-hander tied the Saints’ franchise record with 10 strikeouts, a career-high, over six shutout innings in a victory over the Bats. He also became the first St. Paul pitcher to throw 100 pitches this season and improved to 2-1 with a 2.93 earned-run average in his past three starts.

Related Articles

Minnesota Twins |


Saints complete six-game sweep with win in Louisville

Minnesota Twins |


Dobnak strikes out 10 as Saints stop Louisville

Minnesota Twins |


Saints score early, often while slugging Louisville

Minnesota Twins |


Saints set franchise record for hits in 18-4 win

Minnesota Twins |


Saints seize the day game in Kentucky