SID's JOTTINGS

• Twins President Dave St. Peter, who has spent some time at spring training, shared his thoughts on the club: "Well I think we're encouraged early on here. The Sano situation not withstanding, I think we feel pretty good about the health of our team. It's way too early to make any declarations, but there's a better vibe in camp. I think it starts with just a greater level of confidence that our starting pitching is going to give us a chance to win night in and night out."

• The Timberwolves might have their own farm team in the near future, according to Flip Saunders. "Glen Taylor and I are talking about the ability to buy maybe a hybrid-type team and have our own NBDL team where we can put our own coaches in there, our own system, and we can send guys up and down," the team president said. "You look at a guy like Alexey Shved and that might do him very well to be able to play at both levels and get his confidence up and get playing."

• Fans are able to purchase tickets to the All-Star Fan Fest and All-Star Sunday, which will feature the MLB Futures Game and the All-Star legends and celebrity softball game, at Target Field, starting Sunday at allstargame.com and twinsbaseball.com. They can also call 1-800-33-TWINS.

• Amir Coffey is only a sophomore at Hopkins High School, but North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams already is interested in the son of former Gophers forward Richard Coffey, and watched him play Wednesday night.

• Gophers basketball signee Josh Martin was named first team all-state by the News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., after averaging 26.4 points, 17 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game. Meanwhile Carlos Morris of Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., was named first-team All-Panhandle Conference. His teammate Sam Cassell Jr., son of the former Wolves guard, was named conference Player of the Year.