Recent content from La Velle E. Neal III
Neal: Here's why the Twins will win the AL Central
Prediction: The Twins, with depth and pitching concerns, won't win 90-plus games, but they're still better than their rivals.
How can this be? At age 30, Byron Buxton younger than he was at 29.
The Twins star was a broken-down designated hitter last summer who didn't play a single inning in the field. This spring, he's been sprinting, laughing and back in center field. And he's not ready — yet — to be a full-time Little League dad.
Neal: Keeping Gophers together is Johnson's next challenge
The transfer portal is open, and Ben Johnson needs to keep his best Gophers and win more metro-area recruiting battles to get his future best Gophers.
Neal: Scoreboard says loss, but Wolves' resilience was a winner
The shorthanded Wolves provided a packed Target Center crowd with a display of their resilience, rallying against the Nuggets and making superstar Nikola Jokic shake his head with frustration at times
Neal: Five reasons the Twins should score a 'ton of runs' this year
Additions, subtractions and more experience are keys to this opinion. Think about Royce Lewis playing a full season and Joey Gallo being gone, for example.
Neal: Finally healthy, Twins' Miranda is a hitter without a home
Barring injuries, there likely won't be a spot for Jose Miranda on the Opening Day roster. But he's in that next-man-up zone if needed, provided he's hitting.
Neal: Grieving old Fort Myers Beach while cheering on the new
Minnesotans — me, especially — love this strip of land that was nearly wiped out by Hurricane Ian. It'll never be the same.
Twins' starting pitcher rotation, once a concern, shows promise
Starting pitching depth has been the Twins' biggest worry this spring, but competition for the final starter spot is heating up.
Neal: Think losing Towns will sink the Wolves? Think again.
Anthony Edwards, Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert are the most valuable players on the Timberwolves right now, they can keep this team afloat even without Karl-Anthony Towns.
Neal: Pitcher Paddack determined to balance risk with new reward
Chris Paddack is preparing for a season in which he hopes to remain healthy from start to finish. He wants that — and the Twins need that.