Author: David Shama

The unexpectedness of Terry Ryan’s resignation as Twins general manager is one reason why his news conference will long be remembered but there’s another reason, too.  There was a feeling of respect, almost reverence that could be felt in that news conference late last week.

It’s the responsibility of the press to be skeptical, to probe and question.  Media types are often cynical, overly negative and can lose fairness and objectivity in their writing and reporting.  In this town, though, even those who occasionally found fault with Ryan also respected his many accomplishments during his 13 years as the Twins baseball boss.  The media appreciated his commitment, work ethic, knowledge, intelligence and, perhaps most of all, his honesty.  Ryan isn’t about spin doctor babble.

In separate moments during the news conference two media members offered testimonials and thank yous to Ryan.   It was surprising and rather remarkable to see the Star Tribune’s Sid Hartman and Gene Harrington of Associated Press radio offer tributes.

Nice words came from Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer, too.   He was at the news conference and immediately afterward was asked about Ryan.

“Mr. Ryan is the reason I am here (with the Twins),” Cuddyer said.  “He’s the one that drafted me.  He’s the one that signed me. …I just wanted to be here to express my gratitude to him for bringing me into the Minnesota Twins organization.”

It didn’t surprise a local baseball source that Cuddyer took time on his day off to attend the news conference.  “He understands there’s more to the game than just playing,” the source said.

The 53-year-old Ryan, whose decisions were the most important in assembling teams that won four Central Division championships, has accepted a role with the franchise as senior advisor to new general manager Bill Smith.  After 13 years the demands of an incredibly demanding work schedule, including negotiating with agents, convinced him that for his health and family he needed to resign.  With most other men a skeptical media and public would be asking in large numbers what the real story is.  With Ryan you accept at face value that the job was becoming uncomfortable. In his new advisor role he can reduce his hours and focus on his love of evaluating players for the Twins.  Ryan has earned the public’s trust.

During the last 20 years Minnesota has lost to several “Joe Blows” of the college football world, but Saturday’s 42-39 loss to Florida Atlantic has an element the others can’t match.  The losing legacy of Minnesota football during the last couple of decades includes losses to Pacific, San Jose State, Hawaii, Ohio and Toledo but last Saturday’s defeat came from a school that has been fielding a football team for only seven years and was a touchdown underdog playing in its home area.

The Gopher loss in Miami to Sun Coast Conference member Florida Atlantic ranks with the most disappointing defeats in memory but while the result can be described as surprising it wasn’t shocking.  The Gophers had seven turnovers, including four interceptions, and were their usual feeble selves defensively.  “We played very poorly,” coach Tim Brewster told WCCO radio listeners after the game.  “I coached very poorly.”

Minnesota followed a similar pattern as in its first two games against “Joe Blows” Bowling Green and Miami of Ohio.  The Gophers were often ineffective in the first half, better in the second.  The most troubling constant in splitting the first two games, then losing in Miami, is that the Gopher defense is unable to stop the opponent.  The Gophers gave up 67 points in their first two games.  Last Saturday Florida Atlantic scored 42 points and came up with 580 total yards.  The Owls came into the game averaging 380 yards and lost the previous Saturday, 42-6 to Oklahoma State. The WCCO radio game day crew was at a loss to pick a defensive Player of the Game and only chose an Offensive Player of the Game, Eric Decker.

Reality is that the Gophers aren’t the only ones losing to “Joe Blows.”  Not that it makes things less disappointing but last year Colorado lost to Montana State in Boulder.  New Hampshire beat Northwestern in Evanston.  Then this year Appalachian State shook the planet defeating No. 5 ranked Michigan in Ann Arbor.  Also this season Northern Iowa has a win over Iowa State, East Carolina beat North Carolina and last Friday night Troy State (remember when people used to say, “Troy who?”) defeated Oklahoma State on its home field.

Parity in college football is a buzz word. There are lots of good players and some play for the “Joe Blows.”  That brings us to the Gophers talent gap, particularly on defense.  The unit’s problems wouldn’t disappear but imagine how much better the Gophers could be with a couple of high impact players like former Minnesota prep stars James Laurinatis, Ohio State’s all-American linebacker, and Trevor Laws, Notre Dame’s best defensive lineman.

Brewster’s legacy will be determined by whether he can recruit those kinds of players from this state and elsewhere.  He gets a yes vote here but in the meantime the Gophers can be thankful they play Purdue at home Saturday rather than on the road.  Trying to stop the 3-0 Boilermakers will be challenging enough without having to face an intimidating Big Ten Conference crowd.

Purdue has the league’s best quarterback in Curtis Painter and several receivers he likes to throw to including explosive wide receiver Dorien Bryant.  The Boilermakers had about 402 yards of total offense after just the first half Saturday on their way to 586 yards and a 45-22 win over Central Michigan.

Defensively, Purdue isn’t as impressive and at times was off balance against Central Michigan’s passing game in the second half Saturday. That sets up the possibility of a fourth consecutive high scoring game for both the Gophers and Purdue.  The Boilermakers are no “Joe Blows” and will be a big favorite, easily the best team the Gophers have seen so far. Still, no predictions here on the winner or the score because there are too many surprises in college football these days.

New general manager Bill Smith, who has been a Ryan assistant for years and with the Twins organization since 1986, is a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York where he majored in French. In 1980 Smith was one of the first participants in major league baseball’s development program for executives.  The 49-year-old Smith and wife Becky have three daughters, including twins Allison and Amy.

Michael Cuddyer talking about next year’s Twins: “I don’t know what the plan is but I am optimistic because this organization takes a lot of pride in finding players and developing players. Whether it be going out and getting trades…or promoting within, they’ve done a great job the last decade (and) since I’ve been here.  I’ve got no doubt it’s going to continue to go in that direction even with Mr. Smith taking charge.”

After being swept by Detroit over the weekend, the Twins have now lost seven straight games in the Metrodome and been out scored 40-17.

Twins relief pitcher Pat Neshek has a 6:23 ERA in his last 25 appearances.

John Bell Wilson, longtime Gopher basketball booster and manager, called to report that player agent Bill Duffy and NBA clients including Yao Ming and Steve Nash were in China where their fundraising had produced over $2 million for Chinese orphans.  Duffy played basketball for the Gophers and was a teammate of Kevin McHale, now Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations.

Greg Oden’s right knee injury will sideline him for perhaps 12 months and is an opportunity for former Gopher Joel Przybilla to become the starting center with the Portland Trail Blazers.  Wilson, a financial advisor downtown for UBS, knows Przybilla and said the 27-year-old Monticello native who has struggled with knee injuries is now healthy.

Lindsay Risebrough, daughter of Minnesota Wild general manager Doug Risebrough, is a senior on the Gopher tennis team playing singles and doubles.  The Gophers opened their season last weekend.  She played No. 1 singles in high school for Edina.

The Wild sold out three of their games within 10 minutes of tickets going on sale last Saturday. The sellouts are: Chicago on October 4, Pittsburgh October 30 and Anaheim January 18.

Gopher single game men’s hockey tickets went on sale Saturday.  Information about both general admission standing room and reserved seats is available by calling 612-624-8080, or 1-800-U-GOPHER.

The North American Hockey League’s annual Showcase Tournament is scheduled Wednesday through Saturday at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine. The event will feature 18 Junior “A” NAHL teams, each playing one game a day for four days.  Participants are 20 and under, and the tourney is popular with NCAA and NHL scouts.  Both daily tickets and tournament passes are available to the public at the door.