Bleacher Report on offseason checklist for the players and more

From Matthew Hayden/Bleacher Report:  Timber-Wolf: Improvement From Within—Corey Brewer and Al Jefferson

From Sid Hartman:

Cole Aldrich threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday, a rather high one. "It was a strike for me," the 6-11 Aldrich joked.

The Bloomington Jefferson alum starred for the Kansas men's basketball team. A junior, he has declared for the NBA draft and is expected to be a first-round pick.

The Royals had him wearing a powder blue No. 45 jersey with his name on the back. He claimed he roots for both the Twins and Royals, but his statement dripped with diplomacy.

"I was waiting for my Twins jersey," he later admitted. "I'm hoping I can find one."

Maybe he can throw out a first pitch at Target Field one day. "If the Timberwolves draft me," he said, "that would be a cool little deal."

From Sara Gilbert Frederick/The Free Press:

When the Minnesota Twins played their first game at Target Field this spring, Angie’s Kettle Corn was there. They’ll also be at the Minnesota Vikings first home game at the Metrodome next fall, and at every Minnesota Timberwolves basketball game held in the Target Center as well.

There’s only one professional sports franchise the North Mankato-based manufacturer of sweet-and-salty kettle corn doesn’t currently have a contract with.

"We’ve got everything but the Wild," says Dan Bastian, who owns and operates Angie’s Kettle Corn with his wife, Angie.