Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
MTU
Michigan Tech has canceled the UP Opener Nordic Ski event that was scheduled for this weekend. The Huskies will open their season at the MTU Holiday Championships – Super CXC Cup on January 2nd and 3rd at the Tech Trails.
MLB
Major League Baseball’s Rule Five Draft takes place today. The Detroit Tigers will have the third pick, and the Brewers the 16th. Teams can select minor-leaguers who have reached a certain level of experience, and who are not protected on a major league team’s 40-man roster. The selecting team pays the player’s former team $100,000. If the player selected is not kept on the major league roster for the entire season, he must be offered back to his former team for a cost of $50,000.
The Tigers have completed their minor league reorganization. All MLB teams have cut back to four official affiliates, reducing the number of minor league teams by more than 40. Toledo will remain Detroit’s top affiliate, and Erie will stay on as its Double-A team. The Seawolves had originally been one of the teams slated for extinction, but club owner Fernando Aguirre and local officials worked out a deal for stadium improvements. The West Michigan Whitecaps will be moved up to the High Single A level, and the Lakeland Flying Tigers will drop back to the Low Single-A level. The Tigers will drop their short season Single-A affiliate in Norwich, Connecticut.
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to change their top minor league partner. The Brewers have invited the Nashville Sounds to be their Triple-A team. Nashville was Milwaukee’s top affiliate from 2005 to 2014, when the Sounds switched to the Athletics’ organization. Milwaukee’s current Triple-A team in San Antonio is dropping back to Double-A, and affiliating with the Padres. The Biloxi Shuckers will stay on as Milwaukee’s Double-A club. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will move up to High-A, and the Carolina Mudcats will drop back to Low A.
NFL
Detroit Lions running back D’Andre Swift returned to practice yesterday, after spending three weeks recovering from a concussion. The Lions host the Packers Sunday in a 4:25 game on 99.3 The Lift.
Tonight, the Rams host the Patriots. Coverage begins at 8:00 on 99.3 The Lift.
Please have your picks in The Wolf Pro Football Challenge turned in by noon today at one of our sponsors.
Email sports news and scores to mornings@up.net.
